While things have been quiet on the official legal front in the battle for recognition between Martin Eberhard and Elon Musk , some of the bystanders in the saga are continuing to come forward with their takes of the story. Earlier this week we heard from Tesla’s former SVP for marketing Darryl Siry in a piece that ran on Wired . Now, former communications director David Vespremi is responding with a counterpoint to Siry’s article. The heart of the legal argument revolves around who did what in the very earliest days of Tesla’s existence in 2003-4 and then what happened in 2006-7 as Tesla approached Job 1 for the Roadster. The two men have their own versions of those events and how that relates to what has been said by and about Musk over the past 18 months. Keep in mind that neither Vespremi or Siry were there in the earliest days of Tesla. Instead Siry’s piece looks at the Roadster’s evolution from the AC Propulsion tZero. Vespremi’s response goes way beyond that and places Tesla in some historical context in the progression from the EVs of a century ago as they “cross the chasm” to mainstream acceptability. You can find Vespremi’s entire response after the jump and it’s a worthwhile read. Gallery: 2009 Tesla Roadster v1.5 [Source: David Vespremi] Continue reading David Vespremi on Tesla’s relevance in bringing EVs to the masses Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Tesla Motors David Vespremi on Tesla’s relevance in bringing EVs to the masses originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

The Focus-based electric car that Ford is developing with Magna for a 2011 introduction is not the only EV program in the company. Early next year, Ford will start testing a fleet of battery-powered Focuses in the UK with funding from a British government program. The Technology Strategy Board announced a total of £25 million for eight projects, including the Ford EV test (we’ll have details on the others up soon). Unlike the production-intent program in the U.S., Ford is collaborating with its partner for the Transit Connect EV, Smith Electric vehicles. The battery Focuses will be used by staff from Scottish and Southern Energy in Hillingdon, Middlesex, a utility which is partnering with Smith and Ford on the program. The Focus will use the same lithium iron phosphate batteries that Smith put into the Tourneo Connect BEV concept that we saw at the Geneva Show in March . Gallery: Ford Tourneo Connect BEV [Source: AutoCar ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , UK Ford to launch Focus BEV test fleet in the UK originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Shortly after Tesla Motors co-founder Martin Eberhard filed a lawsuit against Tesla Motors and its Chairman, Product Architect and CEO Elon Musk, the Silicon Valley automaker had this to say: This lawsuit is a fictionalized, inaccurate account of Tesla’s early years — it’s twisted and wrong, and we welcome the opportunity to set the record straight. Incidentally, Tesla will also be filing counterclaims and in the process present an accurate account of the company’s history. The first bit of record resetting has shown up on the official Tesla blog. Not surprisingly, Elon Musk has lots to say in regards to the early years of the Roadster’s development, and he seeks to offer his side of the story, along with a number of emails to back up his claims. What does Musk say? Well, his initial response is a long, informative and extremely interesting read. Here are some choice lines: The facts are that when I requested through AC Propulsion to meet Eberhard, he had no technology of his own, he did not have a prototype car and he owned no intellectual property relating to electric cars. At the time [early 2004], “Tesla Motors, Inc.” consisted of Eberhard, Tarpenning and Wright, plus an unfunded business plan and they were looking for an initial round of funding to create a more advanced prototype than the AC Propulsion Tzero. While there was a basic corporation in place, Tesla hadn’t even registered or obtained the trademark to its name and had no formal offices or assets . There’s more after the jump. Gallery: Martin Eberhard’s Founders Series Tesla Roadster [Source: Elon Musk / Tesla Motors ] Continue reading Elon fires back at Eberhard in Tesla lawsuit’s latest twist Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Tesla Motors , Legislation and Policy Elon fires back at Eberhard in Tesla lawsuit’s latest twist originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Shortly after Tesla Motors co-founder Martin Eberhard filed a lawsuit against Tesla Motors and its Chairman, Product Architect and CEO Elon Musk, the Silicon Valley automaker had this to say: This lawsuit is a fictionalized, inaccurate account of Tesla’s early years — it’s twisted and wrong, and we welcome the opportunity to set the record straight. Incidentally, Tesla will also be filing counterclaims and in the process present an accurate account of the company’s history. The first bit of record resetting has shown up on the official Tesla blog. Not surprisingly, Elon Musk has lots to say in regards to the early years of the Roadster’s development, and he seeks to offer his side of the story, along with a number of emails to back up his claims. What does Musk say? Well, his initial response is a long, informative and extremely interesting read. Here are some choice lines: The facts are that when I requested through AC Propulsion to meet Eberhard, he had no technology of his own, he did not have a prototype car and he owned no intellectual property relating to electric cars. At the time [early 2004], “Tesla Motors, Inc.” consisted of Eberhard, Tarpenning and Wright, plus an unfunded business plan and they were looking for an initial round of funding to create a more advanced prototype than the AC Propulsion Tzero. While there was a basic corporation in place, Tesla hadn’t even registered or obtained the trademark to its name and had no formal offices or assets . There’s more after the jump. Gallery: Martin Eberhard’s Founders Series Tesla Roadster [Source: Elon Musk / Tesla Motors ] Continue reading Elon fires back at Eberhard in Tesla lawsuit’s latest twist Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Tesla Motors , Legislation and Policy Elon fires back at Eberhard in Tesla lawsuit’s latest twist originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

It’s been a little more than a year since we first started tracking the development of the wind-powered car by Ecotricity founder, Dale Vince. His latest video installment, part 9 of 6 (not a typo), is now available and in it, we catch up on all the latest news and are even assured that the completion of the vehicle is within sight. The former Lotus Exige is in the process of re-assembly and not only is the front end now complete, but the big battery box has also been bonded in. Right, so what’s holding things up? Well, one of the project engineers is in the process of inventing the new technology necessary to make it all work once it’s put together and they’re discovering it’s difficult to manage the rate at which such invention transpires. As Ian, the project manager states, “I can’t go and beat him with a stick and say, ‘You must have it done,’ because it just won’t work”. Indeed, it probably wouldn’t. Fret not though, at the end of this episode, that includes a fascinating trip to Leeds University, Vince assures us that, “I’m confident we’ll have the car running in a couple of months.” We sure hope he does and we’ll be here waiting to show it to you. Hit the jump for another installment of wind car inventing action. [Source: Zerocarbonista ] Continue reading VIDEO: Zerocarbonista wind-powered car still being invented Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Manufacturing/Plants , UK VIDEO: Zerocarbonista wind-powered car still being invented originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 31 May 2009 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Orange County Choppers natural gas-powered motorcycle - Click above to watch a video after the break Just about two years ago, the crew from Orange County Choppers built a custom motorcycle powered by E85 . That bike was paid for by the Iowa Farm Bureau, which obviously has a vested interest in promoting the use of corn-based alcohol fuel. Apparently, the Teutels haven’t given up on promoting alternative energy sources as they’ve just pulled the covers off the World’s First Natural Gas-Powered Chopper at a ceremony near their headquarters in New York. Naturally, this project will be seen by the millions of viewers who tune into TLC to watch American Chopper sometime within the next few months. We’re woefully short on any actual details like how much horsepower the big, air-cooled V-twin engine makes, how much compressed natural gas the bike’s tank can hold or what it’s range may be, but we do have a video of the bike’s unveiling to the employees of the Chesapeake Bay Energy Corporation, which is the company that partnered up with OCC to get the custom bike built. Wanna watch? Click past the break for the video. [Source: CNET Car Tech Blog ] Continue reading VIDEO: Orange County Choppers builds custom motorcycle powered by natural gas Filed under: Natural Gas , On Two Wheels , Green Daily VIDEO: Orange County Choppers builds custom motorcycle powered by natural gas originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 30 May 2009 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

The bubble of anonymity surrounding BYD outside of its home in China might be about to burst. Last week, we learned that Volkswagen had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese automaker (first hinted at a month ago ) to work together “in the area of electric mobility.” Turns out that Ford and an as-yet-unnamed European automaker are also pursuing “similar arrangements” with BYD. Warren Buffet must be smiling , since BYD’s stock price has more than doubled this year, according to Auto Observer . Now, who might the unnamed automaker be? There aren’t any obvious choices. Daimler just announced a partnership with Tesla , but did say that Tesla would not be its only electric vehicle partner. BMW uses AC Propulsion packs in the MINI E . Opel (GM) is using batteries from South Korean company LG Chem for the Chevy Volt (and Ampera). Renault (and Nissan) seem to be all set with their various partnerships and Better Place. Fiat? Citroën? Gallery: Detroit 2009: BYD F6DM and F3DM [Source: Auto Observer via All Cars Electric ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Ford , China , BYD BYD looking for more partnerships with Ford, unnamed European automaker? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 28 May 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Elon Musk and Dr. Thomas Weber in the Tesla Roadster During Tuesday’s announcement that Daimler was buying a 10 percent stake in Tesla Motors , Mercedes-Benz R&D boss Dr. Thomas Weber would only say that the company paid in the “double digit millions” for its share. That implies somewhere between $10 and 99 million. TechCrunch’s Mike Arrington specializes in digging up information on Silicon Valley startups and according to his sources, the actual amount that Daimler paid is $50 million for nine percent of Tesla. If they did pay that much, and based on Arrington’s history, there is no guarantee that the figure is correct, that puts the value of Tesla Motors at about $550 million. The benefits to Tesla are obvious: cash, a customer for some of its technology and access to engineering and supply resources. The question is, what does Daimler really get for its $50 million? While integrating battery packs and developing management systems is by no means trivial, Tesla is hardly the only source of that capability. Other integrators are already working with the new, larger format automotive lithium ion cells. Weber acknowledged that Tesla won’t be its only partner on electric drive systems. There are other possible explanations for Daimler’s move. (Note: This rest of this is pure speculation on our part). One possibility we can see is that Daimler wanted to lock up Tesla’s battery know-how for itself to prevent competitors such as BMW from tapping into it. BMW is playing catch-up in the EV space and went to AC Propulsion (from whom Tesla itself licensed some of its early technology) to build the MINI E. Another possibility is that Daimler is using the Tesla investment as a goodwill gesture. By keeping Tesla viable, Daimler could be seen by many EV fans as a savior of the electric car. For that kind of positive feeling, Daimler might consider $50 million a small price to pay. Only time will tell. Gallery: Daimler Tesla press conference [Source: TechCrunch ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Tesla Motors , Daimler Is Tesla really worth $550 million? Daimler apparently thinks so originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 May 2009 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

A few years ago, a video of Tom Hanks excitedly talking up his electric Scion xB (aka eBox, which he got first ) made the rounds. All Hanks’ Hollywood money means that he can drive and be excited about not just one, but multiple electric cars. Hanks recently went on the record to discuss his EV fandom as he cleared up a mistake in a New Yorker article. Writer Peter Boyer apparently mistakenly wrote that Hanks once owned an EV1. Hanks, who stars in the new movie Angels & Demons that opens this weekend, wrote in to say, no, not and EV1 but a RAV4 EV, and has put 50,000 miles on the 2003 car once it escaped the crushing fate of many other EVs at around that time. Hanks’ wrote to the magazine (and reprinted at Ecorazzi ): When the car companies collectively, and, to some, diabolically, decided to take these cars back, the electric vehicles disappeared. But not mine. I have the pink slip. I own that car, and it is still driven every day, albeit by one of my crack staff of employees. My electric car recently crossed fifty thousand miles on the odometer with its original battery but without so much as a splash of gasoline. If you want to be like Tom, keep an eye on eBay. All-electric RAV4’s pop up there now and again and prices have come down since the crazy highs of $70,000-ish a few years ago . Gallery: Right hand drive Toyota RAV4 EV [Source: New Yorker (subs req'd) via Green Car Advisor , Ecorazzi ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Green Culture , Green Daily Tom Hanks, electric vehicle enthusiast, loves his RAV4 EV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 May 2009 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Shai Agassi has big ideas when it comes to electric cars. He wants to build networks of public charging outlets and battery swap stations. He also wants to sell electric cars with a battery subscription plan similar to cell phone calling plans. In an interview with CNET Agassi revealed that he wants to sell his electric car for about $20,000 before any tax credits. With a $7,500 federal credit that price comes down to almost $12,000. In addition to that price, you still have to pay for miles of battery use. Just like cell phones, Better Place plans to offer a number of mileage plans depending on how far you want to drive. While this may or may not prove to be a financially viable model, the far more controversial aspect of the company’s plan is the battery swapping. The company plans to demonstrate its robotized battery swapping system in Japan next month. So far, only Renault-Nissan has committed to building a car to support this system, but it remains to be seen whether this will truly be technically viable. No automaker that we have spoken to other than Tesla has any plans to go down the path of exchangeable batteries. Without standardized pack formats it’s not clear that any swap system can be viable. Either way, Agassi wants to launch his system in Israel in 2011. Gallery: Better Place [Source: CNET ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Better Place Shai Agassi talks about Better Place, $20,000 EV, batteries extra originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments