Renault recently unveiled the demo unit of their electric vehicle Kangoo be bop ZE. Unlike other demo units splashed all over the internet, the EV from Renault will served as a test vehicle to let people know of the technology involved in this new generation of vehicles.

The Kangoo be bop ZE is an improvement of the basic be bop. ZE stands for the zero emissions of the car. At first glance, it looks like it is a twin sibling of the Nissan EV-02 but it can be explained by the collaboration of Renault with the Japanese car maker.

The performance of the be bop ZE is very impressive. Its 60 horsepower engine can maximize the lithium-ion batteries and travel a distance of 100 kilometers or 62 miles in a single charge.

The test drive of the vehicle is limited to the confines of the city where it is also seen as a major contributor in reducing noise and air pollution. Electric vehicles may help make mode of transport a lot cheaper and decrease the dependence to petrol by as much as 90%.

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Toshiba Corporation and Volkswagen AG are set to team up on three major projects: the production of electric drive units, the development of power electronics for Volkswagen’s new line of vehicles, and the manufacturing of high-specific density batteries for the new generation electric-powered vehicles.

These three efforts are supposed to work towards Volkswagen’s goal this year, which is to produce safe, affordable, and emission-free large-scale electric vehicles. This was reported by Volkswagen’s Chairman of the Board of Management, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn.

Eventually, Volkswagen will be producing lithium-ion power technology hand-in-hand with Toshiba Corporation. Based on the direction of the three projects, the Volkwagen AG is aiming for long-term plans that are bound to find their own niches in the production of affordable hybrid and electric vehicles a few years from now.

Toshiba is one of the world’s leaders in electronics and battery production, with their recent Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) lithium-ion batteries. The SCiB is pegged to be used in hybrid and electric cars very soon. The battery line has only recently been commercialized in Japan.

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The US Department of Energy has issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) worth $300 million for helping out the expansion of researches and practical use of alternative fueled engines and advanced technology vehicles.

The latest FOA has four areas of interest:
1. Refueling Infrastructure for alternative fuels
2. Additional costs of alternative fuel vehicles
3. Outreach an educational programs for reduction of petroleum fuels and technologies
4. Pilot Programs for Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles

The funding program may support up to 30 geographically distributed projects. The recipients may include local and state governments, and transportation administrations, provided that they are affiliated with a committed Clean Cities Coalition(s).

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