Vice President Joe Biden is expected to visit a closed General Motors plant in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday, where he is expected to announce that same plant’s reopening. According to reports, Biden will also announce that the plant will focus on constructing plug-in hybrid electric cars instead of traditional vehicles.
Fisker Automotive Inc, a California-based venture capitalist firm, has decided to purchase the former GM assembly plant and renovate it so that it is capable of mass-producing hybrid vehicles. The information comes from a source that is reportedly close to the reasons surrounding Biden’s visit to the Wilmington plant.
Fisker’s chief executive …read more

In a world where going green has become as trendy as it is environmentally friendly, the first automaker to introduce practical electric vehicles stands to make a pretty penny. Honda has thrown its hat into the electric car ring, stating in a report that it hopes to introduce electric vehicles to the United States early next decade.
 
Honda is the second-largest automaker in Japan and it has recently shifted its focus from gas-electric hybrids to all-electric vehicles, hoping to unveil a prototype at October’s Tokyo Motor Show. According to a Honda spokesperson, the company has not yet decided on a release …read more

Troubled automaker Chrysler has just submitted proposals to the U.S. Department of Energy worth a total of $448 million. These proposals outline Chrysler’s plan to research the technology that would make producing a fleet of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids possible.
If the proposals are approved, Chrysler will pay $224 million and would invest in a new technology and manufacturing center in Michigan that would be dedicated to the development of these vehicles. The complex should be complete by 2010 and would be capable of producing upwards of 20,000 cars each year.
Bankrupt since April 30, Chrysler hopes to turn its fate …read more

Though BMW didn’t dive deep into the hybrid vehicle market, the company is now spending more than $1 billion to develop a small automobile, which will have an electric-powered version.
The push for the BMV electric car will be headed by Senior Vice-President Ulrich Kranz under their “Project i” initiative.
The problem with electric cars in the eyes of many consumers is the cost. With batteries priced at over $20,000, the price of these cars may not be worth it most drivers, who can only travel 150 miles between charges.
According to Business Week, “Consultant Bain & Co. figures battery costs could fall …read more

Where are the cleantech hot spots? Earth2Tech has the ultimate map for curious CleanTech Startup watchers. Pinpointing locales around the globe, Earth2Tech’s 101 Cleantech Startups allows you to see all the places that cleantech companies are popping up.
(from Earth2Tech) The different sectors — like solar, energy storage, biofuels and electric vehicles — are all represented by a logo, and each pin on the map has all of the vital stats for each startup (founding year, investors, technology, etc.). We admit we’ve got a bit of a Valley skew, but we’ve thrown in some of the international cleantech heavyweights as well.
Earth2Tech’s …read more

GM vice chairman of Global Product Development Bob Lutz, one of the top execs behind the highly anticipated Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid concept, recently told reporters that he thinks global warming is a “total crock of shit.” But also said he’s “a skeptic, not a denier.”
This latest from Lutz is certainly not shocking considering that Lutz is an executive that is used to speaking his mind. Like…
On the Union of Concerned Scientists: “I’m not sure if they are concerned,” he said. “But they are certainly not scientists.” (BW)
On the questionable environmental, energy, and economic benefits of the alternative fuel: “They …read more

I don’t get too much into toys here at Greener Assets but if your assets are green and you’ve got some extra cash to play with there are some ultimates that are getting sustainable. I tend to swoon more over classic cars but I have to say, the Venturi Fétish is quite captivating. Unlike a lot of other sexy, sustainable cars in development, this is an electric sports car that is in production – the Monaco-based company is making 25 at $500,000 a pop.

Va va voom.
I don’t have any idea if this qualifies for a tax credit but maybe TaxGirl …read more