AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Bright Automotive gets dimmed, will shut down because of DOE loan program delays]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/bright-automotive-gets-dimmed-will-shut-down-because-of-doe-loa/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/bright-automotive-gets-dimmed-will-shut-down-because-of-doe-loa/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/bright-automotive-gets-dimmed-will-shut-down-because-of-doe-loa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

bright automotive plug-in hybrid van

Bright Automotive will shut down after the maker of the extended-range plug-in utility vehicles said the federal government took too long to make good on its planned loans to the Michigan-based company, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing a letter company executive sent to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday.

Bright Automotive, which applied for about $400 million in loans in 2008, had been told for the past 18 months, that the loan was close to funding, but things just took too long. Bright warned the DOE that time was running short just a week ago, saying "If our ATVM application is not moved forward to the next level by March 2, 2012, our mission ends. Period." Yesterday's letter says, in part:

Last week we received the fourth "near final" Conditional Commitment Letter since September 2010. Each new letter arrived with more onerous terms than the last. The first three were workable for us, but the last was so outlandish that most rational and objective persons would likely conclude that your team was negotiating in bad faith.

(Find the full text of the harshly worded letter after the jump.)

The company, which also received a $5 million equity investment from General Motors, had planned to use an old Hummer plant in Indiana to build its Bright Idea utility van by 2014, the Journal said, but reports of problems have surfaced before.

Bright Chief Operating Officer Mike Donoughe made a public statement late last month saying it was ready to add as many as 2,500 direct and indirect jobs through its vehicle production but needed its loan request to be processed "swiftly." Ford, Nissan and Fisker are among advanced-powertrain vehicle makers that have received loans from the federal government.

"This program is an unmitigated disaster."

Michael Brylawski, who co-founded Bright and was an executive vice president there, told AutoblogGreen that the bigger question is about the ATVM program itself. When the government says it will dump $25 billion into one sector of the economy, that changes things, he sadi. "In theory, this is not a hostile administration [to plug-in cars]," he said, so the disconnect between the expressed promotion on one hand and delays in getting ATVM money out the door on the other is incredible. "[The delay] hasn't only distorted the market, it killed the market," he said. "This program is an unmitigated disaster. There needs to be some real answers coming forth from our community."

Bright planned to make a vehicle that would be able to go about 40 miles on electric power alone before a gas-powered generator kicked in to give the van a range similar to that of the Chevrolet Volt. Bright was founded in 2007 by a consortium of Google.org, the Rocky Mountain Institute, the Turner Foundation, Alcoa, and Johnson Controls.

What happens next? Brylawski said that the technology and engineering in the van remains an asset of the company, so "we're trying to get value from that, but Bright Automotive is winding down." The business model and the product still has merit, and the vehicle was really progressing to be something special. The prototype (pictured above) is almost three years old, but because there is a need to protect the intellectual property, Bright can't disclose images of the updated van, but "it was looking awesome," he said. Who knows where it may appear next.

Sebastian Blanco contributed to this report.


Continue reading Bright Automotive gets dimmed, will shut down because of DOE loan program delays

Bright Automotive gets dimmed, will shut down because of DOE loan program delays originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atvmatvmpatvmp loanbrightbright automotivebright ideabright idea phevbright idea vanbrylawskienergy secretaryhummermike donougheplug-in hybridsteven chuWed, 29 Feb 2012 16:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20182965/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20182965/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/29/bright-automotive-gets-dimmed-will-shut-down-because-of-doe-loa/20182965/article-detail.xml 20182965 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/bright-idea-plug-in-hybrid-van-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/bright-idea-plug-in-hybrid-van-628.jpg <![CDATA[Bright Automotive says it's ready to heed Obama's call for more jobs, just needs its loan approved]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/bright-automotive-says-its-ready-to-heed-obamas-call-for-more/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/bright-automotive-says-its-ready-to-heed-obamas-call-for-more/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/bright-automotive-says-its-ready-to-heed-obamas-call-for-more/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bright Automotive Chief Operating Officer Mike Donoughe invoked President Barack Obama's recent call for U.S. companies to create American jobs while developing alternative energy sources for transportation by requesting that Congress speed up the company's federal loan process.

The company, which is developing the Bright IDEA plug-in hybrid-electric cargo van, is "ready, willing and able" to create as many as 2,500 direct and indirect U.S. job once production is up and running. The hold up? Its loan request from the U.S. Energy Department's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) Program hasn't yet been processed, something that Donoughe said in a statement this week should be done "swiftly."

Bright Automotive said last November that it reached an agreement to make the IDEA at the AM General Corp factory in Mishawaka, IN, where the Hummer H2 was previously built. At the time, the company estimated that about 300 people would be employed there. The IDEA is expected to deliver about 40 miles on electricity, then switch over to gasoline power, giving the delivery van a range similar to that of the Chevrolet Volt.

The company, which was founded in 2008 by the battery specialist who helped develop General Motors' EV1 electric vehicle and spun off from the Rocky Mountain Institute, said late last year that the IDEA may be available for government and fleet purchases as early as 2014. The company had initially planned on having its plug-in truck ready by this year, but development was put on hold during the recent recession and financial crisis.

Continue reading Bright Automotive says it's ready to heed Obama's call for more jobs, just needs its loan approved

Bright Automotive says it's ready to heed Obama's call for more jobs, just needs its loan approved originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Incentive ProgramATVMbrightbright automotivebright ideacargo vanfederal loansIDEAindianaobamaplug-in hybridFri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20158039/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20158039/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/27/bright-automotive-says-its-ready-to-heed-obamas-call-for-more/20158039/article-detail.xml 20158039 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bright_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bright.jpg <![CDATA[RMI says clean cars are really "reinventing fire" [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/rmi-clean-cars-reinventing-fire-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/rmi-clean-cars-reinventing-fire-video/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/21/rmi-clean-cars-reinventing-fire-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

rmi reinventing fire

The Rocky Mountain Institute has worked on transportation projects before - see the Hypercar and its evolved kin, the Bright IDEA van, or Project Get Ready - so two the new videos from RMI aren't a surprise. What they are, though, is a refinement of the Institute's longstanding solutions for more efficient vehicles: reduce weight, push governments to support what RMI calls "Revolutionary+ vehicles," encourage next-gen biofuels (i.e., non-corn-based ethanol), encouraging people to use cars more efficiently (car-sharing, congesting charges, etc.) and to "Focus on outcomes, not motives." You can watch both videos after the jump.

The videos are part of RMI's "Reinventing Fire" project, which aims to replace noisy combustion with "the whisper of emission-free electric propulsion." After all, RMI notes, the U.S. burns through 13 million barrels of oil each day, oil that contains "energy stored up by millions of years of photosynthesis." In other words, we're using it at a much faster clip than it was created, and that's a recipe for unsustainability. Aside from the environmental benefits, RMI says, "Instead of paying an increasingly high cost for oil in money, environmental damage and blood, we capture a $3.8 trillion net prize by 2050 by not using it."

Continue reading RMI says clean cars are really "reinventing fire" [w/video]

RMI says clean cars are really "reinventing fire" [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bright automotivebright ideaelectric vehiclehypercarplug-in hybridreinvent firereinventing firermirocky mountain instituteMon, 21 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20111434/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20111434/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/21/rmi-clean-cars-reinventing-fire-video/20111434/article-detail.xml 20111434 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/rmi-reinventing-fire_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/rmi-reinventing-fire.png <![CDATA[Bright IDEA van coming in 2014]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/bright-idea-van-coming-in-2014/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/bright-idea-van-coming-in-2014/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/bright-idea-van-coming-in-2014/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bright IDEA Van

The van that Bright Automotive is building at AM General's former Hummer-producing plant has an arrival date. Government and fleet purchases of the curve-topped IDEA van are now slated to begin some time in 2014. The van will use a unique form of plug-in hybrid drive, with a gas engine optionally driving the front wheels, electricity to the rear and a system that optimizes for the best combination of power and efficiency. Bright indicates that the IDEA will return provide around 40 miles of electric-only driving and net 100 mpge.

Bright Automotive is a spinoff from the hypercar efforts at Rocky Moutain Institute. A combination of lightweight materials, battery technology, and aerodynamic design is key to achieving what the company hopes will be chart-topping performance. Bright has also received a $5 million injection from GM. The van will compete in the EV hauling market against Ford's Transit Connect EV.

Bright IDEA van coming in 2014 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brightideaplug-in hybridvanThu, 17 Nov 2011 17:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20105148/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20105148/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/17/bright-idea-van-coming-in-2014/20105148/article-detail.xml 20105148 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/bright-idea-side-580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/bright-idea-side-580.jpg <![CDATA[Bright Automotive to build van in former Hummer plant]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/bright-automotive-to-build-van-in-former-hummer-plant/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/bright-automotive-to-build-van-in-former-hummer-plant/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/bright-automotive-to-build-van-in-former-hummer-plant/#commentsFiled under: , ,




The production lines at the AM General Corp factory in Mishawaka, Indiana used to crank out the Hummer H2. Now they're set to produce a vehicle that may not quite have the same intimidation factor, but does have a high degree of practicality. In the process, about 300 workers could find new jobs.

Bright Automotive has annouced an agreement to use the plant to produce their IDEA plug-in hybrid cargo van. The IDEA is expected to deliver about 40 miles on electricity, then switch over to gasoline power, giving the delivery van a range similar to that of the Chevy Volt. However, Bright expects the IDEA to do even better than the Volt when running on gas, returning about 40mpg.

However, the agreement that Bright announced is only one step in the process. The company is still seeking funding, including a loan from the Department of Energy, along with tax abatements from the local county.

As a light commercial van, the IDEA could be an ideal solution for delivery routes, vending service, catering... any number of situations where such vans are used. Bright is also expecting to sell a number of its vans to state and local governments. AM General already has some experience assembling electric vehicles. Its Michigan plant assembles the EV version of the Ford Transit Connect van, which is the IDEA's direct competitor.

Bright Automotive to build van in former Hummer plant originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brightbright automotivedeliveryelectric vehicleideaplug-in hybridvanFri, 04 Nov 2011 09:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20093907/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20093907/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/04/bright-automotive-to-build-van-in-former-hummer-plant/20093907/article-detail.xml 20093907 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/bright-idea-van_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/bright-idea-van.jpg <![CDATA[Great IDEA! Bright Automotive looking for 200 new employees]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/great-idea-bright-automotive-looking-for-200-new-employees/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/great-idea-bright-automotive-looking-for-200-new-employees/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/04/great-idea-bright-automotive-looking-for-200-new-employees/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bright IDEA PHEV - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's not just upper-level execs that Bright Automotive is looking to bring on board. The Midwest company announced today it is hiring for 200 jobs in Southeast Michigan in 2011 to help make the Idea plug-in hybrid van a reality. What kind of people? Vehicle and manufacturing engineers who work "in the areas of design, body, interior, chassis, electrical, powertrain and vehicle development as well as key business functions such as supply chain management, information technology, sales, marketing and finance." Sound like you? Go apply here.

Bright says the new employees will work out of the company's new technical center in Rochester Hills, MI that will open later this year. The Idea van will be developed there and at Bright's home base in Anderson, IN. To go along with the expanded workforce, Bright is planning a series of informational forums with automotive parts suppliers that want to work on the Idea. These will take place some time in early 2011. Looks like that $5 million investment from General Motors is going to good use.


Gallery: Bright IDEA


Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Bright Automotive]

Continue reading Great IDEA! Bright Automotive looking for 200 new employees

Great IDEA! Bright Automotive looking for 200 new employees originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bright automotivebright automotive evbright ideabright idea phevelectric vehicleplug-in hybridTue, 04 Jan 2011 14:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19786192/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19786192/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/01/04/great-idea-bright-automotive-looking-for-200-new-employees/19786192/article-detail.xml 19786192 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/pev2009-bright-idea-24-620_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/pev2009-bright-idea-24-620.jpg <![CDATA[Ex-Tesla, Chrysler exec Mike Donoughe joins Bright Automotive as COO]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2010/08/12/ex-tesla-chrysler-exec-mike-donoughe-joins-bright-automotive-as/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/08/12/ex-tesla-chrysler-exec-mike-donoughe-joins-bright-automotive-as/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/08/12/ex-tesla-chrysler-exec-mike-donoughe-joins-bright-automotive-as/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ten months after leaving Tesla Motors as its executive VP of engineering, Mike Donoughe has resurfaced at Bright Automotive as its new chief operating officer. Donoughe has been in the auto industry for 28 years with stints at Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz before joining Tesla.

Donoughe will run the day-to-day operations of the newly General Motors-funded Bright Automotive as it works to get its Idea plug-in hybrid van into production. During Donoughe's time at Chrysler, he oversaw teams that brought numerous trucks, SUVs and minivans to market and is familiar with the market requirements for commercial vehicles like the Bright Idea van.

Since leaving Chrysler, Donoughe has accumulated experience with electric vehicles both at Tesla and powertrain startup SINOEV Technologies. Bright will be working with General Motors on a variety of projects moving forward and will more than likely adopt GM powertrains for the Idea van.

[Source: Bright Automotive]

Continue reading Ex-Tesla, Chrysler exec Mike Donoughe joins Bright Automotive as COO

Ex-Tesla, Chrysler exec Mike Donoughe joins Bright Automotive as COO originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bright Idea PHEV van - Click above for high-res image gallery

Following today's announcement that GM Venture would invest money into Indiana-based start-up Bright Automotive, we got a few more details about the partnership and the vehicle from Bright Automotive chairman and CEO Reuben Munger and General Motors Ventures President John Lauckner in a conference call. For the number-hungry out there, we learned that GM's investment totals $5 million and that Bright expects the Idea plug-in hybrid delivery van to get about 38 miles electric of range on the LA92 drive cycle, and then around 350 more miles in hybrid mode. The through-the-road hybrid set-up will use a GM engine and transmission powering the front wheels, while an independent electric system with a "relatively small" battery pack moves the rear wheels.

If those range numbers remind you a bit of the Chevrolet Volt, you're not wrong. But don't expect to see the Bright powertrain make its way into any other GM platforms. Bright and GM representatives called the Idea plug-in hybrid powertrain a "market-appropriate" application as it offers 4WD capability at a "very cost effective" price. How much, exactly? The companies have had a lot of conversations with customers about pricing the vehicle, but are not yet ready to discuss the final price just yet.

GM's monetary approval of the Idea could be good news for Anderson, IN, where Bright envisions the creation of 1,000 direct jobs and around 5,000 indirect jobs in the supplier system. The Idea PHEV has been in development for years, but we now have a new target date for full market availability of, probably, 2013 or 2014. Bright and GM think waiting a bit more to get the van on the road won't hurt them, since the market for this kind of vehicle is 900,000 units per year in America; Bright's full production capacity is expected to be 50,000 units annually.

No one would say how much of Bright GM will get for its $5 million, just that GM would get a "minority percentage" stake in Bright. It's also unknown at this time if the Idea will be sold at GM dealers, but the new partners were quick to point out that the Idea is more cost competitive than the Transit Connect and has more utility than an all-electric delivery van.



GM, Bright Automotive talk details about $5m investment, Idea van partnership originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bright Idea PHEV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Two months after establishing a new venture capital subsidiary, General Motors has made its first strategic investment with the announcement today that GM is hooking up with Bright Automotive. Bright has been showing a plug-in hybrid van, the Idea (pictured) for the past couple of years, but has struggled to get the vehicle into production. The goal of GM Ventures is to invest in start-up companies that have technology that could provide GM with a competitive advantage over other automakers.

The Bright Idea is a through-the-road plug-in hybrid van that is claimed to have a 40-mile electric range. An electric motor drives the rear wheels while a small gasoline engine drives the front wheels. Through this new partnership, Bright will have access to GM engines and transmissions while GM will have access to Bright's hybrid developments. GM Ventures has already provided funding to Bright and further details of the partnership will be determined in the next several months.


Gallery: Bright IDEA


Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Bright Automotive]

Continue reading GM Ventures invests in Bright Automotive for strategic partnership

GM Ventures invests in Bright Automotive for strategic partnership originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bright IDEA PHEV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bright Automotive has not been able to drive the Idea plug-in hybrid van on the easiest road to market. A new set-back - from one perspective - was a number of layoffs and executive shuffling at the company this week. CEO Reuben Munger, though, doesn't see the job cuts and repositionings as anything but positive for the company. After all, they were his decisions and he told AutoblogGreen it's all part of the reason he became CEO a few weeks ago.

Munger said his new job is to "create the transitional experience" for the company to get the Idea van off the drawing board and onto the road. While some people - contractors and a small handful from the eSolutions sustainability consulting group - were let go, Bright will also soon be bringing in new people to focus on the company's upcoming strategic partnerships. These partnerships should kick-start the Idea program and Munger said he hopes the company is now in a position to be profitable:
I think we very clearly have an execution oriented team that is in position to make money from today. Therefore, future changes are all about adding people to realize the vehicle program and/or supporting new business in the engineering solutions area.
The cuts are not tied to the slow-moving DOE loan application process, Munger said, adding, "We look forward to continuing our dialogue with them to a successful completion." Michael Brylawski, Bright's executive VP of corporate strategy, told AutoblogGreen something similar:
We're also in talks with a number of OEMs on strategic partnerships and are planning for a major transition and relaunch of the IDEA program within the calendar year. We had a few staff transitions this week that are part of the overall shifts in our business as we get cash flow positive and prepare for a relaunch.
We've been evolving the business over the last few quarters to get to cash flow positive with our eSolutions/conversions business. Our business is viable without DOE, although like all other US OEMs developing electrified platforms we are working with the 136a program to help fund the IDEA launch. Of course having been in this program since December 2008 we (like many other applicants) are hoping the DOE can accelerate its overall process.
Thanks to anonymous for the tip!


Gallery: Bright IDEA


Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Bright Automotive]


Is there trouble at Bright Automotive? Yes and no, as job cuts and new hires could now lead to profitibility originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 28 May 2010 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bright IDEA EV van - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bright Automotive named a new CEO today, but the company is stressing that there is no behind-the-scenes upheaval. The new CEO was, until today, the chairman of the board, Reuben Munger. The old CEO, John Waters, will remain on the company board. The reason for the shift is that Munger is more of a deal-maker while Waters will be shifting his focus back to the actual vehicle engineering. Munger told AutoblogGreen that he's been serving as an "active executive chariman" since being named chairman three months after the company went into existence. "John and I have been working together to realize a shared vision around Bright Automotive," he said. "It's a mild evolution, not a seismic shift." One example of Munger's ability to get out there is his membership in the Electrification Coalition.

So, what's next for the Indiana-based company? Munger said Bright will be moving into the "execution phase" within the next six months. Specifically, this means the announcement of a new partnership and the expectation that a DOE loan and additional private capitol will come. Bright said in January that it was in discussions with a few OEMs and a handful of non-OEMs. At this point, Bright is narrowing down who they will be working with and expect to make that announcement maybe still in the first half of 2010, but it may slip into the third quarter.

As for the actual Bright Idea vans, there are three of them in existence (or getting close to existing). There is a powertrain mule, a combined powertrain mule and concept prototype (this is the one we drove) and one additional production mule that is nearing completion. We couldn't get any information about what changes are being made, but Munger said the software and drivetrain is constantly evolving. Just like the company.

[Source: Bright Automotive]

Continue reading Bright Automotive moves Chairman into CEO spot, readying more deals for plug-in van

Bright Automotive moves Chairman into CEO spot, readying more deals for plug-in van originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bright AutomotiveBrightAutomotivejohn watersJohnWatersreuben mungerReubenMungerWed, 14 Apr 2010 11:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19439439/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19439439/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/14/bright-automotive-moves-chairman-into-ceo-spot-readying-more-de/19439439/article-detail.xml 19439439 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/bright-idea-7-580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/bright-idea-7-580.jpg <![CDATA[Bright Automotive latest to get USPS contract for electric truck conversion]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/bright-automotive-latest-to-get-usps-contract-for-electric-truck/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/bright-automotive-latest-to-get-usps-contract-for-electric-truck/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/bright-automotive-latest-to-get-usps-contract-for-electric-truck/#commentsFiled under: ,



The one contract from the United States Postal Service (USPS) to start bringing electric trucks to the large national fleet of Long Life Vehicles (LLVs) that we knew about went to Zap. That contract was for a single truck, and it looks like Bright Automotive has been awarded a similar deal.

Bright announced today that the company's eSolutions team has gotten a contract to convert an LLV. Unlike Bright's Idea plug-in hybrid (PHEV, pictured), the LLV conversion will be a pure electric. Some of the technology from the Idea will make it into the LLV, though, specifically, the rear electric drive from the Idea's powertrain will be used. Once completed and delivered (target date: July 2010), the truck will be tested in the Washington, D.C. area for a year.

We've heard that five companies have received these conversion contracts from the USPS. The Bright press release, pasted after the jump, mentions that EDAG, Inc. also received one and Bright is working with EDAG on that project. Anyone know who the other two are?

[Source: Bright Automotive]

Continue reading Bright Automotive latest to get USPS contract for electric truck conversion

Bright Automotive latest to get USPS contract for electric truck conversion originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bright automotivebright automotive electric carbright automotive evbright automotive post officebright automotive postal servicebright automotive uspsbright automotive usps electric truckbright IDEABrightAutomotiveBrightAutomotiveElectricCarBrightAutomotiveEvBrightAutomotivePostalServiceBrightAutomotivePostOfficeBrightAutomotiveUspsBrightAutomotiveUspsElectricTruckBrightIdeaFri, 05 Mar 2010 14:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19384947/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19384947/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/05/bright-automotive-latest-to-get-usps-contract-for-electric-truck/19384947/article-detail.xml 19384947 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/chicago-2010-bridgestone-03-b630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/chicago-2010-bridgestone-03-b630.jpg <![CDATA[Chicago 2010: Bridgestone's new tires can improve fuel economy by four percent]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/chicago-2010-bridgestones-new-tires-can-improve-fuel-economy-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/chicago-2010-bridgestones-new-tires-can-improve-fuel-economy-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/chicago-2010-bridgestones-new-tires-can-improve-fuel-economy-b/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bridgestone Ecopia Tires - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tires can really suck gas. Overcoming rolling resistance can account for anywhere between five and 15 percent of a light-duty vehicle's fuel consumption, and standard tires don't put a priority on reducing that resistance. But, low-rolling resistance tires, at their name implies, do. At the Chicago Auto Show this week, Bridgestone unveiled two new tires - called the Ecopia EP422 and the Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia - that bring the company's fuel efficient tires to a new class of vehicles.

The Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia tires were designed for SUVs, CUVs and light trucks and are the first Ecotopia tires for these vehicles. The Ecopia EP422 are all-season tires designed for regular passenger vehicles and are made with post-consumer recycled rubber and Bridgestone's NanoPro Tech Technology. Bridgestone estimates that these tires offer four percent better fuel economy than standard Bridgestone tires. The will be available some time this spring.

To highlight the green side of these tires, Bridgestone brought the Idea plug-in hybrid van from Bright Automotive to show off at the company booth. Take a look in the gallery below.


Gallery: Bridgestone Ecopia Tires with Bright Idea PHEV

Continue reading Chicago 2010: Bridgestone's new tires can improve fuel economy by four percent

Chicago 2010: Bridgestone's new tires can improve fuel economy by four percent originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bright IDEA PHEV van - Click above for high-res gallery

The chances that Bright Automotive will get $450 million from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program (ATVMLP) might have gone up a bit thanks to a recent visit from a representative of the Obama Administrative. Teno Villarreal, special assistant for the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, spent time in Anderson, IN, last week and learned more about the the Bright Idea plug-in hybrid van. Representatives from the start-up automaker told Villarreal that up to 6,000 jobs could be created if the Idea goes into production (up from 5,000 claimed earlier). Villarreal's response was, "It's great technology, a great company. There's real excitement about the possibilities at Bright." So, maybe?


Gallery: Bright IDEA


[Source: The Herald Bulletin]

Bright Automotive gets a visit from Obama Administration official originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new Electrification Coalition was announced today with the backing of the CEOs from twelve companies. What's interesting about this group is that, among the leaders from electric vehicles companies and related start-ups - Coda Automotive, Coulomb Technolgies, A123 Systems, etc. - we find Nissan's Carlos Ghosn. Nissan is the only major OEM to participate in this coalition, which will promote "policies and actions that will facilitate the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale in order to combat the economic, environmental, and national security vulnerabilities caused by our nation's dependence on petroleum."

Step one is the Electrification Roadmap (36MB PDF), which calls for ambitious plug-in sales goals: by 2020, BEVs and PHEVs should make up a full 25 percent of new vehicle sales in the U.S. This is a huge step beyond what Ghosn said was possible on Friday. By 2030, the target jumps to 90 percent, and, by 2040, 75 percent of all vehicle miles traveled in the U.S. should be done in a plug-in vehicle. The way the Coalition believes this can happen is by targeting markets where plug-in vehicles will be accepted early, and moving from there to the broader public. More details, including a list of all 12 companies involved, are available after the jump.

[Source: PRTM]





Photo by phos365. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Electrification Coalition sees plug-ins making up 25 percent of market by 2020

Electrification Coalition sees plug-ins making up 25 percent of market by 2020 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bright IDEA PHEV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bright Automotive is proud of the work they've done on the IDEA van, but the company has always intended to make the vehicle just one method of bringing greener transportation to the masses. As we learned from Bright's VP Corporate Strategy, Michael Brylawski, the company will also offer plug-in hybrid conversions and, this week, Bright announced Bright eSolutions, a way for Bright to work with "original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other customers worldwide to develop vehicle and component electrification and efficiency strategies." Basically, Bright will tell interested customers where and how to save weight, make things more aerodynamic and other ways to implement the company's green vehicles principles.

The first eSolutions customer is the U.S. Army's TACOM, which is partnering with Bright on a "low-cost plug-in hybrid electric solution for non-tactical military vehicles." The contract is worth $1.4 million and also contains a project to "demonstrate the ability of plug-in hybrid vehicles to deliver power to the grid."

Gallery: Bright IDEA


[Source: Bright Automotive]

Continue reading Bright Automotive announces eSolutions, army plug-in hybrid contract

Bright Automotive announces eSolutions, army plug-in hybrid contract originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birght automotive armyBirghtAutomotiveArmybright automotivebright automotive electric carbright automotive evbright IDEABrightAutomotiveBrightAutomotiveElectricCarBrightAutomotiveEvBrightIdeaesolutionshybridWed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19212643/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19212643/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/28/bright-automotive-announces-esolutions-army-plug-in-hybrid-cont/19212643/article-detail.xml 19212643 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/pev2009-bright-idea-23-620_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/pev2009-bright-idea-23-620.jpg <![CDATA[Quick Spin: newly upgraded Bright IDEA delivers]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/quick-spin-newly-upgraded-bright-idea-delivers/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/quick-spin-newly-upgraded-bright-idea-delivers/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/quick-spin-newly-upgraded-bright-idea-delivers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Bright IDEA PHEV - Click above for high-res image gallery

The concepts that went into the Bright IDEA - a lightweight plug-in hybrid that serves a specific and large population - look great on paper. The vehicle itself, though, has never really looked all that good in the pictures we've seen. This week, during the Business of Plugging In conference, we had a chance to see and drive the IDEA plug-in hybrid ourselves, we can say that it's much better in person than any numbers or pictures can suggest. We've written in detail about Bright Automotive's business plan for the IDEA (read that post here), so it's time to dig into what this vehicle looks, acts and drives like. Most important, now that we've seen the IDEA up close, we have a better idea what it could do for fleets looking to curb their fuel usage. Follow us past the jump to find out more.

Gallery: Bright IDEA


[Source: Bright Automotive]

Continue reading Quick Spin: newly upgraded Bright IDEA delivers

Quick Spin: newly upgraded Bright IDEA delivers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bright automotivebright automotive electric carbright automotive evbright ideaBrightAutomotiveBrightAutomotiveElectricCarBrightAutomotiveEvBrightIdeafeaturedidea electric vehicleidea evIdeaElectricVehicleIdeaEvjohn watersJohnWatersphevWed, 21 Oct 2009 20:17:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19202353/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19202353/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/21/quick-spin-newly-upgraded-bright-idea-delivers/19202353/article-detail.xml 19202353 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/pev2009-bright-idea-24-620_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/pev2009-bright-idea-24-620.jpg <![CDATA[Bright Automotive has an IDEA to put 150,000 PHEVs on the road by 2015]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/bright-automotive-has-an-idea-to-put-150-000-phevs-on-the-road-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/bright-automotive-has-an-idea-to-put-150-000-phevs-on-the-road-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/bright-automotive-has-an-idea-to-put-150-000-phevs-on-the-road-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bright IDEA EV van - click above for high-res gallery

Bright Automotive unveiled the Bright IDEA plug-in hybrid van at the end of April in Washington, D.C. The van that was on display that day is still the only IDEA in existence, but Bright has big dreams to get their through-the-road hybrid system into a lot of vehicles, even before the IDEA goes into production in three or four years. We recently had a chance to sit down with Michael Brylawski, Bright Automotive's of VP Corporate Strategy, to talk about the IDEA, Bright Automotive's new conversion options and why the government should be looking seriously at handing out money to start-ups.

Find out how Bright could put 150,000 PHEVs on the road by 2015 after the jump.

Gallery: Bright IDEA



Continue reading Bright Automotive has an IDEA to put 150,000 PHEVs on the road by 2015

Bright Automotive has an IDEA to put 150,000 PHEVs on the road by 2015 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The IDEA plug-in hybrid van from Bright Automotive was unveiled earlier this year in Washington, D.C. and it's already time for the first test drives to start. Plug in vehicle advocate Paul Scott was recently given the opportunity to visit Bright's Indiana headquarters and see what moving the duck-like van is all about. His first impression: the van gets a B+ for building a PHEV van that works but still needs some upgrades to make the shift from pure electric drive to when the ICE kicks in more smooth. Scott writes:
All in all, I was very impressed that they've come this far this fast. I fully expect they'll have the vehicle in A+ shape in a matter of months.
Read Scott's full write-up after the jump.

The IDEA is a 100 mpge (see clarification here) van that weighs just 3,200 lbs. and can go 30 miles on battery power alone. With a slippery coefficient of drag of under .3, the van can use a small 10 kWh battery pack. The company wants to move to high-volume production (50,000 units a year) in late 2012. Bright Automotive came out of stealth mode in January and is made up of people who have a lot of experience with thinking about how to best build a tremendously efficient vehicle, including some who spent time at the Rocky Mountain Institute. For more on the thoughts churning at Bright Automotive, check out this recent editorial from Bright Automotive CEO John Waters calling for more DOE and government funding for automotive entrepreneurs. Like, for example, a little company called Bright Automotive.

Gallery: Bright IDEA test drive images


[Source: Paul Scott]

Continue reading First Drive Report: Bright IDEA plug-in hybrid van gets a B+ for now

First Drive Report: Bright IDEA plug-in hybrid van gets a B+ for now originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anderson indianaAndersonIndianabright automotivebright automotive electric carbright automotive evbright evbright ideaBrightAutomotiveBrightAutomotiveElectricCarBrightAutomotiveEvBrightEvBrightIdeafalseideaidea electric vehicleIdeaElectricVehicleMon, 03 Aug 2009 13:08:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19117464/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19117464/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/08/03/first-drive-report-bright-idea-plug-in-hybrid-van-gets-a-b-for/19117464/article-detail.xml 19117464 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/p1020129-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/p1020129-630.jpg <![CDATA[Bright Automotive looking for ATVMLP money, too]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/bright-automotive-looking-for-avtmlp-money-too/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/bright-automotive-looking-for-avtmlp-money-too/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/25/bright-automotive-looking-for-avtmlp-money-too/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bright IDEA EV van - click above for high-res image gallery

The amount of the money flowing from Washington, D.C. into green car companies these days is pretty astonishing (well, unless you're working on hydrogen cars). The DOE announced $8 billion in loans from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program (ATVMLP) this week, but there is at least another $17 billion left in the fund, and a lot of applicants still waiting to hear the status of their requests (more announcements are expected in the coming months).

One such company is Bright Automotive, which introduced the IDEA plug-in electric van in Washington recently. The company says that their vehicle is "the only company applying for Department of Energy loans that is developing a highly efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for commercial and government fleets." Oh, and the only one that reminds us of a duck (see this pic for an example). More details on Bright's loan application are available here. There's not enough money in the pot to give everyone what they asked for, but Bright is making the case that their leadership team has the experience needed to get the money. Some of that experience was gained from projects like the EV1, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the GM Two-Mode Hybrid. Think it's enough?

Gallery: Bright IDEA


[Source: Bright Automotive]

Bright Automotive looking for ATVMLP money, too originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bright automotivebright ideaBrightAutomotiveBrightIdeaidea plug in carIdeaPlugInCarThu, 25 Jun 2009 10:17:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19077045/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19077045/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/06/25/bright-automotive-looking-for-avtmlp-money-too/19077045/article-detail.xml 19077045 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/bright-idea-7-580_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/bright-idea-7-580.jpg -1 2