Big Blue Bus will use the grant approved by the MSRC partially to fund the purchase of 58 new Cummins-Westport 8.9L million from the Federal Transit Administration, to purchase nine new CNG buses. In California, Big Blue Bus (BBB) will receive $870,000 from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee’s (MSRC) Near Zero Engine Incentive Program. ISL G Near-Zero (NZ) 0.02 NO x engines. MORE

More than 40% of consumers view fuel economy as “extremely important” when considering a new vehicle purchase today, up 13.5% Thirty-seven percent of consumers say fuel economy will have the “greatest impact” on their next vehicle purchase. Forty-six percent of younger buyers (Millenials) say fuel economy is “extremely important” in the new vehicle purchase decision—the greatest percentage among all age groups. 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. First 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. rebates incentives plug-in cars state laws Oregon MORE

Electric-car advocates in many states have found that purchase incentives can be one of the most effective ways to encourage greater adoption. As neighboring states reap the benefits of rebate programs, it's likely to make New York electric-car advocates green with envy. While the state has made some efforts to expanding electric-car adoption, it. Green New York incentives plug-in cars transportation policy MORE

While sales of new light vehicles in the United States continued at a brisk pace in March 2012, the types of vehicles being purchased, as well as the types of buyers and the average transaction price are rapidly changing, according J.D. Power and Associates’ Power Information Network (PIN), which collects transaction data on hundreds of thousands of new retail vehicle purchases and leases each month. MORE

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has signed a contract to purchase 450,000 gallons of advanced drop-in biofuel for the US Navy from Dynamic Fuels, LLC, a joint venture between Tyson Foods, Inc. a renewable oil and bioproducts company, will help Dynamic Fuels fulfill the contract, which the Navy and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report is the single largest purchase of biofuel in US government history. MORE

There's more than a 3-to-1 chance that your gas price fell last week. The price itself depends largely on what state you live in, but the average price of a gallon of gasoline rose in just 12 states, staying the same or falling in the other 38, according to the average pricing on GasBuddy. But whether it's rising or falling, whether it's above $4 MORE

If plug-in electric cars and trucks receive purchase incentives from national and state governments, what about electric bicycles? It recommends directing purchase incentives and infrastructure subsidies towards electrically assisted bicycles, known as e-bikes. That's just what a recent report from the European Cyclists Federation suggests. Europe Germany bicycle incentives Zero Emission Vehicle transportation policy electric motorcycles electric bikes MORE

Sinopec), China’s largest company by revenue, has agreed to purchase the natural gas produced from the facility and has already announced plans to construct a pipeline to deliver the gas to the eastern region. Overview of the Bluegas catalytic coal methanation process. Click to enlarge. MORE

Ballard Power Systems has received purchase orders for 102 fuel cell power generation systems to be delivered to its new Southeast Asian distributor, Cascadiant Inc. The purchase orders for 102 systems include direct hydrogen ELECTRAgen-H2 systems, to be deployed in the network of an Indonesian service provider in order to meet short duration runtime backup power requirements. MORE

cities is discussing a major purchase of electric cars for their municipal fleets. While federal policies to reduce vehicular emissions of carbon dioxide are now back in the limelight, it's a different story on the state and local level. A group of 30 U.S. The cities have jointly asked automakers for cost and feasibility estimates of providing. government fleet sales plug-in cars cities fleet MORE

The purchase price was not disclosed and the acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter of 2012, is subject to German regulatory approval. Hilite SCR doser injection nozzle. Click to enlarge. Cummins Inc. MORE

The average sales-weighted fuel economy (adjusted EPA window sticker value) of new vehicles purchased in the US dropped 0.2 The University of Michigan Eco-Driving Index (EDI) is a national index that estimates the average monthly amount of greenhouse gasses produced by an individual US driver who has purchased a new vehicle that month. mpg in May from the level in April to 23.7 mpg US (9.9 MORE

As U.S. electric-vehicle advocates are well aware, a handful of states have reduced or killed incentives for plug-in vehicles over the past year, adding some headwinds to sales. Earlier this month, the Canadian province of Ontario took the opposite approach, expanding its plug-in electric vehicle incentive program. It's a welcome tailwind. The new. Politics rebates Canada incentives plug-in cars Ontario MORE

New York City has issued a three-year contract to purchase Envision Solar International’s EV ARC products. The first units purchased through this contract were delivered earlier in May and were featured at the City’s 29 th Annual Fleet Show at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows. The contract has a posted initial value of $3.8 million and an optional one-year renewal at the end of the three-year term. MORE

Ah, Texas, the state that was formerly a nation and continues to do things slightly differently. Its politics is bare-knuckle, its hats are big, and so are its ranches. It also generates more renewable wind energy than any other state in the union. Its auto-dealer lobbyists, however, are equally large and powerful. DON'T MISS: Tesla Loses Legal. Politics rebates dealers incentives Tesla Motors plug-in cars Texas state laws MORE

The task of the committee of experts and stakeholders writing the report was (1) to identify market barriers slowing the purchase of PEVs and hindering the deployment of supporting infrastructure in the United States and (2) to recommend ways to mitigate those barriers. The purchase of a new vehicle is typically a lengthy process that often involves substantial research and is strongly affected by consumer perceptions. MORE

A new report from the Automotive Connected Mobility (ACM) service at Strategy Analytics has found that ridesharing usage may not negatively impact the future vehicle purchase intention of current vehicle owners. Key findings of “ Impact of Ride Sharing Frequency on Vehicle Purchase Intention ”, include: Ridesharing usage actually increased the likelihood that current vehicle owners would purchase another vehicle within the next five years. MORE

Well, that was decisive! Our readers are clearly, unquestionably, absolutely intending to switch from driving on fossil fuels to driving on grid electricity. That's the only conclusion we can draw from the results of our most recent Twitter poll, this one on what respondents planned to buy for their next green car. DON'T MISS: What effect will. plug-in cars Polls MORE

Vision Industries has finalized the purchase order agreement for 100 hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid Tyrano Class 8 trucks ( earlier post ) with Total Transportation Services, Inc. The purchase agreement also allows TTS-I to purchase an additional 300 Vision trucks, bringing the total value of a contract to approximately $108 million dollars. This Purchase Order demonstrates that the trucking industry has embraced the zero-emission platform. MORE

Plans by the California city of Long Beach to purchase BYD electric transit buses has hit another speed bump. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) may block the purchase of the Chinese company''s buses, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports (via ChargedEVs). MORE

UPS plans to purchase approximately 700 liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks and to build four refueling stations by the end of 2014. An initial investment of more than $18 million to build fueling stations will be supported by the purchase of the 700 LNG tractors and continued expansion of the natural gas fleet in the US. Once completed, the LNG private fleet will be one of the most extensive in the US. MORE

That's why purchase rebates are widely preferred by electric-car advocates to tax credits, which may take up to 15 months to be usable, depending on the timing of the purchase and tax filing. It's clear that incentives to buy specific cars work best when they can be applied directly at the time of sale. MORE

Chevrolet is purchasing carbon credits worth up to $5 million to help 11 colleges in the US pay for energy efficiency-based carbon reductions. This helps ensure campuses can continue to receive funding from companies’ carbon purchases long after Chevrolet completes its carbon-reduction initiative next year. The GM brand will retire the carbon credits to benefit the climate instead of using them to offset the emissions of Chevrolet vehicles or operations. MORE

While the federal government has a blanket $7,500 tax credit available for anyone who purchases an eligible electric ca, each state is at liberty to apply its own incentives to encourage people to make the switch from gasoline to electric cars. The amount of additional incentives varies from state to state, but now residents of the town of Normal MORE

The purchase of electric vehicles is a step towards achieving our goal of 30% reduction by 2020 of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 1990. The City of Montreal, Canada has signed a two-year framework agreement with Cité Nissan Gabriel SEC to supply LEAF EVs for the municipal fleet. This agreement reflects the commitment of our Administration to develop the electric vehicle sector. MORE

Being green is big money, according to a new study, which shows that fuel economy has the biggest influence on car purchasing decisions than any other factor. MORE

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults think it is at least somewhat likely they will purchase a car that runs on something other than gasoline in the next 10 years. These findings include 21% who are Very Likely to purchase an alternative fuel car during the next decade and 18% who are Not At All Likely to do so. Those with higher incomes are more likely to consider purchasing a non-gasoline car than those who earn less. MORE

Government incentives have been vital to electric-car adoption in the many countries that have enacted them so far. Offering cash or tax reductions for buying electric cars, or offering perks like parking or carpool lane access, can go along away toward getting hesitant buyers over the hump. Now, India is trying to do just that with a national. India incentives Mahindra plug-in cars reva transportation policy MORE

Incentives for the purchase of a plug-in battery-powered vehicle continue to be a powerful motivation to get new buyers to consider electric cars. The federal income-tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 has long been supplemented by various state programs, including a purchase rebate in the crucial California market. Now the California Clean Vehicle. rebates California incentives plug-in cars state laws MORE

being obligated or spent for the production or sole purchase of. The US Senate Committee on Armed Services completed its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013. The bill emerging from the Senate committee authorizes $631.4 billion for national defense programs. The bill authorizes $498.0 million more than the President’s request for the base budget of DOD and $301.0 MORE

Purchase incentives have proven to be a powerful tool for electric-car adoption in those states that offer them. And now it seems two more states may be ready to join that group. New York has just added budget provisions for an electric-car incentive program during the upcoming fiscal year, and Minnesota is close to passing similar measures as. New York Minnesota incentives plug-in cars state laws transportation policy MORE

Linde, a global leader in the growing liquefied natural gas fueling market, is purchasing 20 LNG-fueled trucks. The trucks, expected to be on the road later this year, will account for 20% of Linde’s 2012 tractor purchases and will be integrated into Linde’s fleet of 700-plus trucks carrying cryogenic gases to customers throughout North America. MORE

Yesterday, the Province of British Columbia announced the return of its Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) incentive program, effective April 1. The program''s return was the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes efforts by electric-vehicle advocates throughout the province. The so-called Phase 2 of the program largely restores incentives from Phase. Green British Columbia Canada Politics incentives plug-in cars state laws transportation policy MORE

Texas will soon become the latest state to reward electric-car buyers with a check. The Lone Star State will implement a rebate program, announced last fall, that will give $2,500 rebates to owners of plug-in cars, Charged EVs reports. The program was approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in November 2013 with an intended MORE

As part of this commitment, Metro will purchase up to 73 battery buses from Burlingame, Calif.-based Federal funding often helps pay for Metro’s new bus purchases. King County, Washington, Executive Dow Constantine announced that King County Metro Transit will acquire 120 battery-electric buses by 2020. based Proterra. The first 20 are scheduled to go into service this year and 2019. Metro serves Seattle and the rest of King County. MORE

The credit--among the highest offered by any state--applies to new electric-car purchases or For Georgia electric-car owners, things aren''t looking too peachy this week. Legislation proposed by Representative Chuck Martin last Thursday night would end the $5,000 electric-vehicle tax credit by April 1, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. MORE

Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation, has purchased a corn ethanol plant in Mount Vernon, Ind. from Aventine Renewable Energy-Mt. Vernon, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. The plant has an annual production capacity of 110 million gallons and uses Delta-T technology, similar to the process already in use at Valero Renewables’ ethanol plant in Jefferson, Wis. MORE

Norway Post has signed a contract to purchase 20 Transit Connect Electric vehicles, with an option to order more vehicles in the future. Norwegian Post Ford Transit Connect Electric. Copyright: Norwegian Post. Click to enlarge. MORE

has received a purchase order valued at $12 million from Wrightbus, for lithium iron magnesium phosphate batteries to be delivered through 2015. Valence Technology, Inc. Wrightbus, which has had a relationship with Valence since 2007, selected Valence as the battery supplier of choice for Wrightbus’ range of hybrid vehicles. We are very pleased to work with Wrightbus as they continually meet the evolving needs of their customers. MORE

A rebate program for electric-car purchases was announced last week by Governor Deval Patrick, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (via the Sierra Club). Massachusetts is about to give its residents a reason to plug in. The program will provide state residents who buy or lease a new plug-in car with a rebate of up to $2,500 at the MORE

After a slow start, electric cars could take another step forward in China as the country decides to waive its 10 percent purchase tax on the vehicles. It''s the latest effort by the country''s policymakers to address China''s pollution and energy independence issues. Electric car sales have been abysmal in China while those in the U.S, Europe and MORE

million, to purchase 35 Catalyst buses, bringing Proterra’s total number of firm orders to 287 vehicles from 38 cities across the United States. Proterra announced that eight new and existing customers have won Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission (LoNo) Vehicle Deployment Grants. The 2016 LoNo grant winners will use their funds, a total of $22.8 MORE