TN e-cars roll out

Knoxville's MetroPulse provides an interesting overview of the challenges facing Nissan and others as they roll-out their Leafs and other e-cars.

Alt Fuels: E-car recharging - We're on it

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is working on wireless charging for electric cars, for those forgetful owners. The KNS reports. Meanwhile, Nissan recently announced progress in setting-up those LEAF recharging stations, including some in Tennessee. Meanwhile, an MTSU professor's car runs on hydrogen, the KNS reports.

DOE signs Nissan LEAF Battery loan agreement

The Department of Energy signed a loan agreement to make $1.4 BN available to Nissan to support manufacture of the LEAF e-car battery at Smyrna, Tenn. Release here. The DOE release said, in part, "The loan will result in the creation of up to 1,300 jobs when the plants are operating at full capacity. Modification of the Smyrna manufacturing plant, which will begin later this year, includes a new battery plant and changes in the existing structure for electric-vehicle assembly. When fully operational, the vehicle assembly plant will have the capacity to build 150,000 Nissan LEAF electric cars per year, and the new plant will have an annual capacity of 200,000 batteries."

Update on Nissan Leaf e-car in TN

The Times Free Press provides an update on plans for the Nissan Leaf to be test-introduced in Tennessee. The story's here.

Nissan-Reliant

Nissan said in a release today, "The Renault-Nissan Alliance today announced that Nissan and Reliant Energy of Houston, Texas, one of the major competitive electricity providers in the nation, have forged an agreement to advance zero-emission mobility in the United States. The announcement helps pave the way for the 2010 introduction of Nissan LEAF, the industry’s first all-electric, zero-emission car designed for the mass market. The company expects to begin sales in late 2010. Reliant is a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), one of the largest electricity generators in the United States..." The announcement precedes the Leaf's zero-emissions tour.

No Tailpipe

Yesterday in Japan, Nissan unveiled its LEAF all-electric zero-emission 5-passenger car, which it plans to begin marketing here in about a year. By 2012, the car will be assembled at Smyrna, Tenn., where batteries are also to be made. Nissan's release is here.