Electric vehicle maker may bring manufacturing operations to Elkhart County, Indiana

This is huge for my area. There are huge empty manufacturing buildings all over Elkhart from the defunct RV companies.

It was just four months ago that President Obama announced electric truck maker Navistar International would soon hire hundreds of locals to build electric trucks. This week, local leaders say another electric vehicle manufacturer is also interested in calling Elkhart County home.

“This is the cutting edge of plug-in, all-electric vehicles," said County Commissioner Mike Yoder.

Earlier this year, Think North America, a subsidiary of the Norwegian electric car manufacturer Think Global, said Indiana was on the short list of potential states to be home to its U.S. manufacturing operations. Oregon and Michigan were also on the list.

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But two months ago company officials came back. The potential site: an empty warehouse north of Middlebury, at Indiana 13 and County Road 2.

On Monday, Think North America spokesman Brendan Prebo told WSBT News that while this does not constitute a final decision, "we are at a point where we are focusing on negotiations in Indiana."

Obama announces $2.4 billion in grants for cleaner cars

By GottaLaff

If you missed this in the live feed of President Obama's speech in Elkhart, Indiana:

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that the federal government will provide $2.4 billion in grants for the development of more fuel-efficient, battery-powered automobiles.

I can almost smell the fresher air now...

Car Companies Standardize Plug for Electric Vehicles

By GottaLaff

::Hopping from one foot to the other, clapping madly with glee::

Just a few hours after General Motors called for a standardized EV plug, one has been created!

Caroline Reichert, a spokeswoman for the Germany energy company RWE, said leading automotive and energy companies have reached and agreement for a standardized plug for electric cars. Some of the automakers include in that agreement are Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Fiat, Toyota and Mitsubishi.

The three-point, 400-volt plug, which will allow electric cars to be recharged anywhere in a matter of minutes, will be unveiled Monday at the world’s biggest industrial technology fair in Hanover, northern Germany.

One giant step for electric cars, one small step for mankind.