TRUCKMAKERS NEWS * USA - All-Electric Vans

Detroit,MICH,USA -The Detroit News - December 8, 2010: Ford Motor Co. expects commercial plug-in vans and trucks to be as important to the emerging electric vehicle market as sales to consumers in dealer showrooms... That's why the automaker is getting in early...

(Photo: Ford's Transit Connect van)

* Ford Targets Fleets shipping all-electric version of Transit Connect priced at $57,400 and has range of 80 miles... Ford estimates 50% of total electric market will be in fleets over next 10 years, only small percent will be pure EV w/ rest plug-in or gas-electric hybrids... Ford to produce 600 to 700 electric Connects in 1st year, that compares to 30000 gas-powered Connects already built... Electric Connect production starts next summer in Europe...

* GM focusing on consumers, but analysts say EVs too it's well suited for fleets. Chevy looking hard at retail market for its Volt plug-in hybrid, will work w/ Bright Automotive to produce IDEA plug-in commercial vehicle...

* Mercedes plans plug-in version of Sprinter van in U.S. by 2013...

* Renault plans all-electric commercial vehicle there called Kangoo

* GM Developing Next Generation of Urban Vehicles

Detroit,MICH,USA -PR Newswire - December 2, 2010:  -- Rapid urbanization, aging populations, demand for personal mobility present challenges. Today's vehicles will be hard-pressed to meet...  Electric Networked Vehicle, or EN-V, concepts take advantage of enabling technologies developed within GM. Including powertrain electrification, sensing, automation, telematics...  Vehicle-to-infrastructure communications technology and vehicle-to-vehicle communications. Driver could summon autonomous vehicle using smartphone application...   EN-V major step forward in GM's leadership in development of advanced vehicle technology...  Creating new automobile DNA through convergence of electrification and connectivity...   EN-V offers promise of eliminating traffic congestion, crashes, vehicle emissions... (Photo GM's Bright IDEA van)