Carbon Day Automotive set up the first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in Chicago at the city's Department of Fleet Maintenance. It was a focal point of the recent IOC tour on April 5. Carbon Day Automotive is the sole Midwest distributor for Coulomb Technologies ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations.
The US Government is buying 17,600 vehicles costing $285M from the Detroit-3. Purchases include 2,500 hybrids and $15M in advanced technology compressed natural gas and hybrid buses and all-electric vehicles.
The availability of in-vehicle electronics is growing as wireless companies look for new markets, automakers attempt to differentiate products and lure customers, and insurance companies seek to reduce claims.
The Obama administration will be purchasing 17,600 fuel-efficient federal fleet vehicles from the Big Three Detroit automakers, using $285 million from the $787 billion stimulus bill. The government will order 2,500 hybrid sedans by April 15 as part of the purchase. This is part of the government's automaker support efforts, and comes not long after a $17.4 billion loan to GM and Chrysler.
Commercial and government fleet sales of new vehicles are down significantly in March 2009 compared with March 2008. Results by fleet type are: small businesses (-41.4%), medium businesses (-57.1%), large businesses (-68.7%) and government (-72.8%). Sales of used vehicles are down over 90% by both commercial and government fleets.