E-vehicles venture nets $350MM capital

Israeli company Better Place announced Jan. 24 it has raised a $350MM B-round for its E-vehicle grid, with HSBC leading the round. Selected North American markets will be targeted, after the recharging grid and related services are deployed in Israel and Denmark. The release is here.

Nissan Leaf debut tomorrow

Nissan's Leaf debuts tomorrow at the Tokyo Motor Show. WIRED offers this advancer. WIRED also reports on the card's new iPhone app controller. An AP story in the Times Free Press this morning has CEO Carlos Ghosn saying that e-cars will cost more than regular cars, by the time they reach scale. He predicts e-cards with 10 percent of market by 2020.

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.

e-Autos: Powertrain horserace off-and-running

Tennesseans have great hopes that tech advances at Oak Ridge NL and recent corporate investment announcements will spawn not only electric-vehicle production (thanks! Nissan), but also battery powertrain-related jobs. San Jose's Mercury News reports Tesla Motors is making a $100MM play to build such a facility in the Bay Area, using Stimulus resources. That's a Tesla PR photo of a Tesla roadster.

Nissan Electrics in TN?

Some days, in the wake of VW and Hemlock, it seems anything is possible. And, and as we blogged in January, there've been signals the Bredesen Administration is trying to persuade Nissan to manufacture E-cars in-state. What next? A key Nissan executive, Mark Perry (at left), will speak in Chattanooga Feb. 16 on "Creating a New Electric Vehicle and the Grid to Feed It," giving further impetus to hopes that Nissan's Mid-TN headquarters, plus Tennessee's clean energy and automotive pushes, plus the TVA energy grid, may prove deciding factors in Nissan's decision. The 11:30 a.m. (ET) event at the Doubletree Hotel (Chatta.) is cosponsored by Chattanooga Engineers Club, Chattanooga Technology Council, Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Quality, Society of Women Engineers, IEEE and other professional societies. [Updated Feb. 17 with correct photo of Mark Perry.]

Tennessee Green: 'There's a BYD F3DM in your future'

[Updated] We reported recently that Gov. Phil Bredesen is definitely tracking more companies poised to expand and-or invest in Tennessee. This morning's Tennessean has U.S. Sen. Bob Corker saying there'll soon be another announcement in one of the other Grand Divides. Mentioned today: Hemlock Semiconductor, Sharp Electronics (Memphis, possible expansion candidate), Aerisyn Energy (wind), AGC Flat Glass, Dupont Danisco Cellulosic (biofuel). There are also hints Tennessee is pursuing Nashville-based Nissan North America and General Motors for production of new electric cars. Meanwhile, today's WSJ reports on the emergence of The People's Republic of China's BYD, maker of the new F3DM e-car, which is prepared to take on the world, albeit with a few engine-mount shakes and rattles. Updated Jan. 13: KNS's Brass reports on Knox-based Enerex's business in wind-to-energy, story here.