OTHER MOSTLY GOOD NEWS FROM GM: Volts produced for sale in California after Feb 6 will have Low Emissions Packages making them eligible for the 40,000 stickers allowing HOV (car-pool) lane access, and for a $1,500 state tax credit on top of the federal credit. The NHTSA's official statement: [link]. link]. ROUGH TIMES AHEAD FOR PLUG-INS? MORE >>

And since then, we've been working to get the auto companies to start building plug-in vehicles, and never had any idea it would take 42 years. And the idea wasn't to have an electric vehicle or a plug-in vehicle so much as to prove that existing volume production technology was SO CLOSE! He's the tech guy. And the ideas. MORE >>

California Energy Commission recalibrates strategy, releases names of applicants. Fortune calls Zipcar "Best New Idea;" company brings Ford & Toyota along. With California almost entirely frozen out of the awards, CEC matched awards with $15 million. This time we want to build a coalition from the start! EVENTS. MORE >>

Here's the press announcement and the full agenda of the second annual Plug-In conference, co-sponsored by California's utilities, the Electric Power Research Institute, and Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Paul De Martini, Vice President, Advanced Technology, Southern California Edison. Chris Yang, University of California at Davis. MORE >>

This has implications well beyond California, and potentially could affect the viability of companies (and their suppliers) that now convert Priuses and Ford Escapes, but may convert internal combustion gas guzzlers in the future. " It's not quite as strong as California's bill; it still leaves the U.S. cut by 2016. "H.R. MORE >>