The electric Vespa of your dreams will soon be available for US $7000

Iconic scooter maker Piaggio has been profiting off nostalgia for decades with the perennially hip and practical Vespa scooters. The company is now looking forward to the future by offering a product many have been asking for, an electric Vespa.

Vespa Electrica is coming this winter to Europe for €6,390 and will feature a range of 62 miles (99.8 kilometers) on a four hour full-charge. The company says the included battery pack should last around 10 years. While there is no shortage of electric scooters in the market today, purists will no doubt wait and see what this Vespa has to offer.

Source: The Verge

Ontario government shuts down EV and hydrogen vehicle incentive programs

Vehicles purchased on or before July 11 are eligible and still have 60 days to apply.

Ontario's new conservative government has shut down all incentives for electric vehicle charging stations according to the Ministry of Transportation. The timing of this comes just as the sales of EVs and hybrids are at an upswing with more models. The arrival of the more affordable Tesla Model 3 has generated a lot of sales but a lot of those buyers were counting on the provincial incentives to help defer the costs of their vehicles. This is a step back towards the adoption of EVs in Canada.

Click to read more ...

Target looking to add 600 new EV chargers in more than 100 locations in the US

Target is going all-in on supporting Hybrid and EV vehicles with the announcement that it will be adding 600 new EV chargers in the next 2 years which will be distributed across 100 sites in 20 states in the US. This gives drivers of electric vehicles a viable option to top up their cars while they are shopping.

In order to roll out the EV chargers, Target has partnered with varied charging providers for the project, including Electrify America and Target's current partners ChargePoint and Tesla.  Adding EV chargers is part of Target's carbon reduction initiative. This includes the use of wind and solar power for some of its energy needs, with plans to have rooftop solar panels at 500 stores by 2020. Eventually, Target aims to source 100 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources.

Source: AutoBlog

Canadian International AutoShow to offer electric vehicle test drives

EVs or electric vehicles are expected to be front and centre at the upcomng Canadian International Auto Show and now visitors aged 21 or older with valid driver's licenses can experience first hand what driving an EV feels like. Various manufacturers including GM, Nissan BMW, Fiat-Chrysler, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Volvo will showcase their latest EV and Hybrid electric cars.

“The automotive world is changing and the Canadian International AutoShow is changing with it,” said AutoShow General Manager Jason Campbell. “You can’t go to any major auto show in the world, be it in Frankfurt or Shanghai or Los Angeles, and not see large numbers of electric vehicles on display. In February, the Canadian International AutoShow will be no different.”

Click to read more ...