Despite Americans being known to be suckers for things like a large SUV ‘hybrid’ weighing over 2 tonnes, next year’s Detroit Auto Show (set to be held mid-January 2010) will have a special 37,000 square foot section called Electric Avenue devoted entirely to electric cars. Electric Avenue will be sponsored by Dow Chemical Co, a battery supplier who has EV batteries in the works.
So far a mix of both regular nameplates in the industry as well as new EV startups (seems like getting into the electric car business is quite easy given the accessibility to ready-made components like motors and batteries) have signed up and a total of 20 different cars will be displayed. Will we see Detroit Electric there? You can be sure for Renault to be there with some of their EV cars which use the Nissan Leaf’s EV powertrain.
A JV between Dow Chemical and South Korean company Kokam Engineering recently receiveda US$161 million grant to develop these EV batteries and build them at a $665 million 800,000 square foot facility consisting of an R&D center and production plant in Michigan.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
hmmm.good.develop more electric car.go green
Still no news yet on 'Detroit Electric?
I betcha Potong will miss the next auto revolution again.
Sign….
If I'm not mistaken Detroit Electric signed another agreement with Dongfeng last June/July. Really can't remember when I read the news.
Don't know whether it is the same agreement model as made with Proton or anything but hopefully all the best for all parties.
The latest news of Fiat/Chrysler EV projects got scrapped due to immature battery tech is a hit at the "green" hopes. Fingers crossed.