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Consumers Continue to Demand Environmentally Friendly Cars and Automakers Respond With Electric, Plug-In Hybrids and Flex-Fuel 'Green' Vehicles
RenewableEnergyStocks.com -- Issues of Global Warming, Fuel Prices and Energy Independence Drive Demand for Cleantech Vehicles
| Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com; ZAP; Green Plains Renewable Energy
POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 7, 2006 --www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading investor and industry portal for
the renewable energy sector, reviews the momentum surrounding the green car
industry as global warming, costly fuel prices and the need for energy
independence drives demand. Alternative transportation companies such as
electric car developer and distributor ZAP (OTCBB : ZAAP ) with current
electric models on the market today, and ethanol producer Green Plains
Renewable Energy (NASDAQ : GPRE ), work to capitalize on consumer demands for
cleaner vehicles and fuels. With the shift toward green cars taking hold,
automakers such as Honda, General Motors, Toyota and others are stepping up
efforts for further research and development in this area.
As the auto industry faces recent slipping sales, clean energy vehicles are
catching the attention of consumers looking for efficiency and
environmentally friendly alternatives, giving manufacturers a new direction
for growth. The momentum behind green cars is a reaction to a variety of
factors such as fuel prices despite current declines, environmental issues
such as greenhouse gas emissions and global national energy security
concerns.
This week, many new clean energy vehicles are being introduced at the Los
Angeles Auto Show, a platform for the unveiling of current and future
alternative vehicles. Creating a buzz were displays of plug-in hybrids,
which use electric motors with a gasoline engine as a backup, and electric
vehicles that run entirely on electricity. Also in the mix were natural
gas, ethanol and biodiesel vehicles. Another event, the AltCars Expo this
weekend in Santa Monica, is shaping up to be the one of the premier events
for alternative fuel vehicles, and many of the new models and concepts will
be present.
Recently, major automakers Toyota, Honda, General Motors and Nissan
revealed a future that includes the production of various clean energy
models. General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has announced GM's plans to develop
a plug-in hybrid for its Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, but with no specific
date for production revealed. General Motors has also unveiled the concept
behind the Hummer "O2" which converts carbon dioxide to oxygen using
algae-filled body panels.
General Motors is also focusing on cars that run on ethanol (E85) as part
of their overall corporate environmental strategy moving forward. With
ethanol becoming more widely available, as more producers such as Green
Plains Renewable Energy (NASDAQ : GPRE ) bring plant production online, these
flex-fuel vehicles offer automakers viable near-term opportunities while
they continue to develop their next generation of green cars.
Hyundai is committing research efforts to hydrogen-powered fuel cells and
vehicles that run on clean diesel as well as gas-electric hybrids. Honda is
also looking at fuel cells with plans for hydrogen-powered sedans for 2008.
Toyota Motor Corp, the largest seller of traditional hybrids, is another
major automaker talking about developing plug-in models.
While many companies pursue the plug-in hybrid models, full electric
vehicles are rapidly grabbing industry attention. While there are very few
publicly owned companies currently offering mass-produced electric cars,
one private firm, Tesla Motors, is showcasing its new Roadster prototype,
planned for limited production as early as 2007, but with a price tag of
$100,000USD. Nissan has plans for a 125-mile range all-electric car, but
plans for production are targeted for 2010.
Electric car manufacturer and distributor ZAP (OTCBB : ZAAP ) has a jump on
the market with the only mass-produced and affordable electric car
available for sale today. ZAP's XEBRA city-car and truck is currently on
sale through dealerships in Los Angeles for approximately $10,000USD. With
most automakers looking several years down the road for market entry of
most plug-in hybrids and electric models, ZAP appears well positioned to
fill today's consumer demands.
As a sign of things to come, Yahoo! has created a special feature within
Yahoo! Autos dedicated to green cars including ratings, technological
overviews as well as community information and news pointing toward further
validation of the potential behind the green car market.
To read more on ZAP (OTCBB : ZAAP ) visit:
http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/ZAAP/Default.asp or the Company's
website at www.zapworld.com
To read more on Green Plains Renewable Energy (NASDAQ : GPRE ) visit:
http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/co/gpre/ or the Company's website at:
www.gpreethanol.com
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