The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded researchers at Oregon State University a $2-million grant to further the development of a diatom-based photosynthetic biorefinery. Photo courtesy of Oregon State University) Click to enlarge. MORE

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), along with charging station partner AeroVironment and the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE), opened the first phase of the West Coast Electric Highway, which is anticipated to eventually stretch along Interstate 5 from the Canadian to Mexican borders. Plans call for more than 40 additional charging stations from AeroVironment to be operational in Oregon and Washington by the end of the year. MORE

It's taken a while, but Oregon will now have a state electric-car purchase incentive that largely matches those in its neighbor to the south, California. rebates incentives plug-in cars state laws OregonFirst discussed several years ago, the idea of a purchase rebate for cars that plug in hadn't made it through previous legislative sessions. This year proved different, with the rebate included. MORE

This new electrically-assisted tricycle began delivering packages in Portland, Oregon, on 21 November 21. UPS has introduced its first eBike in the US. UPS anticipates this eBike prototype could become a component of its delivery capabilities in some other cities across the country. MORE

Green Gas Tax Infrastructure Oregon plug-in cars state laws taxes As cars get more efficient, their owners spend less money on fuel. That''s good for their wallets and for the environment, but not so good for the nation''s infrastructure. That''s because road maintenance is heavily reliant on revenue from gas taxes, and that revenue is shrinking as cars use less fuel--and those that run on grid electricity use none. MORE

Oregon’s Department on Environmental Quality (DEQ) is inviting public comment on a proposed rulemaking that would fully implement Oregon’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). The first phase required Oregon producers and importers of fuels to register with DEQ, keep records and submit reports about the fuels they currently supply. Oregon Environmental Quality Commission authority to adopt these rules expires in 2015 under the current legislation. MORE

Of the 20 dealers in the region, 12 will be located in Washington and eight in Oregon. The four new chargers added to Oregon’s current network of 815 DC fast chargers will increase fast-charger availability by 15% in the Portland metro area and 5% statewide. MORE

Oregon Governor Kate Brown, who assumed office in February after the resignation of former Governor John Kitzhaber, has signed into law Oregon’s Clean Fuels legislation ( SB 324 ). It also extends the target date for standard compliance from the year 2020 to 2025, directs the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to adopt provisions to manage and contain costs, and add exemptions for fuels used for specified purposes. MORE

The company was selected by the Oregon Department of Transportation as part of its West Coast Green Highway vision and will install the [.]. Electric cars Green cars Latest news AeroVironment electric car charging I-5 corridor OregonDrivers on the I-5 corridor from the California state line to the Willamette Valley should be on the lookout for some new level three electric vehicle fast charging stations from AeroVironment, Inc. MORE

Electric car-friendly Oregon may join the growing list of states imposing a dedicated tax on electric vehicles. Like other states looking to tax electric and fuel efficient cars, Oregon is pre-empting a rise in the number of electric vehicles on the roads and a subsequent fall in revenue from gas tax. MORE

Oregon's House has passed a bill to end the $1500 tax credit for conventional hybrid vehicles on the last day of 2009. Tags: kulongoski plug-in hybrid oregon battery electric car After that point only plug-in vehicles qualify. House Bill 2180 , which passed overwhelmingly, Creates specific tax credit for purchasers of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and related equipment. MORE

The Polk County, Oregon, Sheriff’s Office is running 10 patrol cars converted to propane autogas, including seven Ford Crown Vics, two Chevy Tahoes and one Ford F-350 pickup truck; the office expects to save more than $20,000 every year by using the alternative fuel. MORE

Significant steps have been taken by the US state of Oregon as Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law a series of bills that constitute a climate change package. Tags: Global warming Green cars Latest news climate change laws house bill Oregon senate bill The laws are as follows: House Bill 2186: This authorises the Environmental Quality Commission to develop a low carbon fuel standard that would start in 2015. MORE

Today, electric-car sales in Canada, a new purchase rebate in Oregon, the importance of heavy-truck emissions, an ambitious EV road trip, and a car that drove itself off its own production line. All this and more on Green Car Reports. June's plug-in electric car sales for Canada are now in, and there's a new entrant that's soared to the top of the. Today in Car News MORE

The proposed BTL facility, led by Red Rock Biofuels, a subsidiary of IR1 Group LLC, an experienced biofuels project developer, will be located in Oregon and will be designed to convert some 170,000 tons per year of forestry derived biomass into approximately 1,100 bpd of liquid transportation fuels. Oxford Catalysts Group has been selected as the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology provider for the design and possible construction of a commercial Biomass-to-Liquids (BTL) plant in the US. MORE

Researchers at Oregon State University have shown that potassium can work with graphite in a potassium-ion battery (KIB)—a discovery that could offer a challenge and sustainable alternative to the widely-used lithium-ion battery (LIB). MORE

Today, we''ve got confirmation that Audi will build an all-electric SUV, a look at how quickly the Tesla Supercharger network has grown over the past year, and Oregon''s concept for a per-mile road fee that could replace the gas tax. All this and more on Green Car Reports. The Nissan Sway concept sets the look for future small cars, but could it. Today in Car News MORE

The Oregon Legislative Assembly approved a landmark bill that will commit the state to eliminate its use of coal power by 2035 and double the amount of renewable energy serving Oregonians to 50% by 2040. Otherwise known as the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition plan, Senate Bill 1547-B received final approval on the Senate floor Wednesday after the Oregon House approved the bill in a 38-20 bipartisan vote on Tuesday. MORE

Yet in Oregon, a proposal that would let utility companies invest in regional charging infrastructure—and make that transition a little easier, perhaps—is. Politics Electric Car plug-in cars regulation charging infrastructure Fast Charging OregonElectric-car ownership allows you to break free from petroleum dependence—and to instead plug in and spend your energy dollars locally and regionally, on energy from the grid. MORE

No question about it, Portland, Oregon, is an early-adopter market for electric vehicles, and one of the leading EV markets in the U.S. The Rose City, as it's nicknamed, is already home to the first—and only, with the Vacaville, California charger down—publicly accessible Level 3 quick-charging station in the U.S., allowing more than MORE

If you find yourself on the roads of central Oregon, keep an eye out for this eye-catching Nissan Leaf. It's owned by Pine Mountain Sports, a ski and mountain-bike shop located in Bend, Oregon, which uses it as a shop vehicle. plug-in cars OregonChristened, the "Pinemobile," it was purchased back in August, and is living up to the expectations of its owner so far. MORE

The Beaver State, otherwise known as Oregon, may implement an intriguing solution to spur higher sales of electric vehicles. sales dealers incentives New car sales Dealership plug-in cars state laws OregonA new piece of legislation introduced in the state senate calls for a $1 million fund to provide $250 bonuses to salespeople each time they sell an electric vehicle, according to Charged. The bill would, however, exempt. MORE

A new Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC) research project, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation, will evaluate the effectiveness of a program to promote “ecodriving,” or fuel-efficient driving. It is part of a larger effort on Oregon’s part to reduce harmful emissions and help stop global climate change. MORE

Now, Oregon's two largest utility companies have filed plans to. electric utilities plug-in cars Charging station charging infrastructure education OregonIt's clear that after several years of electric-car sales, electric utilities see a role to be played in providing the infrastructure to make them practical. Two weeks ago, California utility PG&E received approved to install 7,500 public charging stations for plug-in vehicles. MORE

Today, more Tesla Superchargers coming, news on Volvo's first all-electric car, and what Uber wants its Portland drivers to do. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Tesla plans to double its number of Supercharger outlets globally as it prepares for the launch of its high-volume, less expensive Model 3 electric car. Volvo will build its first. Today in Car News MORE

Oregon is a state that punches well above its weight in promoting and adopting zero-emission vehicles and plug-in electric cars. Connectivity portland Car Sharing Autonomous cars plug-in cars OregonSmaller than California, it offers a laboratory where EV makers can try out new programs and experiment with new marketing and charging programs to see how they work. That was the pitch, at least, from the state-funded. MORE

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has selected AeroVironment to supply, install, operate and maintain twenty-two (22) electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations along major transportation corridors and travel destinations in northwest Oregon. MORE

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV is now available for purchase or lease at several dealerships in northern and southern California, as well as a few in Oregon. Add one more battery-electric vehicle to the list of electric cars for sale in California (if not the rest of the U.S.). About a hundred of the electric minicars arrived last week at the San MORE

The battery-electric Fiat 500e is now available as a 2015 model year at Fiat studios in California and Oregon for $199 a month for 36 months with $999 due at signing. Sales of the Fiat 500e expanded to Oregon earlier this year. MORE

The Fit EV will be available for lease-only in key markets in Oregon and California, after which availability will expand to six East Coast markets in early 2013. Fit EV. Click to enlarge. MORE

The 2017 Honda Clarity Electric sedan arrived at the beginning of August in select dealerships in California and Oregon. In addition, if they apply, California and Oregon customers may qualify for their state’s rebates of $2,500 once they become available. MORE

Oregon and Washington will be the next two states to. plug-in cars ChaDeMo quick-charge standard Fast Charging Washington State Oregon GreenlotsThe rollout of the well-received Kia Soul EV electric car is now continuing in states outside California. The electric tall wagon went on sale in the Golden State late last year, and an unexpectedly positive response led Kia to accelerate its plans to sell the plug-in vehicle in other states. MORE

Novus is working with an Oregon lender, Old West Federal Credit Union, to finance the project. The biorefinery will be built on land owned by the Port of Morrow, one of the largest ports in Oregon. USDA has financed projects in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina and Oregon. Additionally, since the beginning of the Administration, USDA Rural Development has invested nearly $24 million in 413 renewable energy projects in Oregon. MORE

Today, California buys the largest number of plug-in electric cars by far of any North American state or province. But the many civic benefits of electric cars--from zero emissions to greater energy efficiency--are inspiring other locales to step up to the plate. MORE

The City of Hillsboro, Oregon plans to deploy 16 Coulomb Technologies ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for plug-in and electric vehicles. The charging stations will be installed in downtown Hillsboro, including at a new intermodal transit facility to be built in 2009. The charging stations, available for public use, are part of the city’s large-scale sustainability and green movement. Hillsboro is located 15 miles outside of Portland and is the home to more than 90,000 residents. MORE

In addition to previously announced markets including California and South Korea, Spark EV will also go on sale in participating dealerships throughout Oregon, Canada and other global markets. The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV ( earlier post ), introduced today ahead of the Los Angeles International Auto Show, will be priced under $25,000 with tax incentives. MORE

Oregon has quite the reputation for being electric-vehicle friendly. Incentives and Rebates Oregon portland That reputation holds true if you already own an EV—the state’s a wonderland in terms of charging infrastructure—but for those who want to replace the fossil-fuel burner, the state hasn’t helped make the path to EV ownership any easier. WATCH: Energica Ego. MORE

The City of Hillsboro is the first in the State of Oregon to install Coulomb Technologies’ Level II ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for plug-in and electric vehicles. The thirteen Level II charging stations are now installed in downtown Hillsboro at their new green intermodal transit facility. Additionally, one Level II station has been installed at the Hillsboro Civic Center, with two more to be completed by the end of October, 2010. MORE

Oregon Governor Kitzhaber recently announced a new initiative to maximize the economic development potential of clean fuels in Oregon, directing the Department of Environmental Quality to move forward with full implementation of Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program and announcing a new Clean Fuels Work Advisory Committee. Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program currently is in a state of suspended animation, the governor’s office said. MORE

When talking about electric cars and early adopters, the state of Oregon often seems like the Little Engine That Could. Germany plug-in cars state laws charging infrastructure Fast Charging Oregon Electric HighwayIt's the only state to have appointed an Electric Car Czar as a state employee, it started work on the West Coast Electric Highway fully five years ago (California is just now funding its share of those chraging sites), and it. MORE

However, just to the north, the small state of Oregon has long been a pioneer and a trendsetter when it comes to electric mobility. Drive Oregon, the nonprofit trade association that has led much of this work over the past few years, recently unveiled a new campaign inviting. portland plug-in cars state laws transportation policy OregonWhen it comes to raw numbers of electric cars sold, California leads. MORE

For the past couple of years, Oregon has been unique among the states that promote electric cars. plug-in cars transportation policy PlugShare Oregon That''s because it created a position within its Department of Transportation for a "Chief EV Officer"--a person charged specifically with overseeing efforts to encourage electric-car adoption. Ashley Horvat has held that position for the past five. MORE

The Oregon State Senate has rejected SB 488 , a measure that would have repealed the sunset on provisions of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in the state in 2015. Like the LCFS in California, the Oregon LCFS targets a 10% reduction in the carbon intensity of vehicle fuels by 2025. The Oregon LCFS is currently being implemented in two phases. Opponents of the Oregon LCFS approved of the Senate’s action. MORE