VIA Motors Names Bob Lutz, Chairman of the Board

by Adam Johnston

Via Motors has now named Bob Lutz, former Vice Chairman of GM, its chairman of the board. Lutz, who has served as a board member for a while, will be taking the place of retiring Carl Berg, according to the company website. Berg remains VIA’s biggest shareholder.

VIA Motors electric trucks new Chairman of the Board is Bob Lutz. Image courtesy of VIA Motors

Lutz’ automotive career has spanned decades, first starting at GM in the 1960′s, then moving to BMW, Ford, Chrysler, and Exide.

In 2001, Lutz returned to GM, helping to play a vital role in the Chevy Volt’s birth, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle which ranks now as one of the top-selling EVs on the market. He retired from GM in 2010, only to join the VIA Motors board in 2011.

“Mr. Lutz brings with him a passion for the evolution of the automobile, and decades of experience from his tenure in top executive positions at each of the world’s leading auto companies,” said VIA Motors CEO John Weber.

An “enigma” in the world of cleantech because of his progressive views on electric cars combined with claims that global warming is a crock, Lutz a few months ago said electric trucks, not cars should have hit the market first.

“I believe VIA is electrifying the right end of the business and is implementing a very sound business strategy,” said Lutz.

“If we are going to see mainstream adoption of electric vehicles, the technology must deliver a good return on investment to the largest segment of the auto business, namely trucks, vans & SUVs. That’s why I am so confident in VIA and I’m pleased to serve as Chairman,” he said.

With the “ultimate car man” leading the helm of a “game changer” like VIA Motors, expect to hear a lot about this company in the very near future.

Read more VIA Motors news here on CleanTechnica. Never miss a story by subscribing to our EV newsletter or overall cleantech newsletter.

This article, Bob Lutz Named VIA Motors Chairman Of The Board, is syndicated from Clean Technica and is posted here with permission.

About the Author

Adam Johnston A University of Winnipeg graduate who received a three year B.A. with a combined major in Economics and Rhetoric, Writing & Communications. Currently attempting to be a freelance social media coordinator. My eventual goal is to be a clean tech policy analyst down the road while I sharpen my skills as a renewable energy writer. Currently working on a book on clean tech and how to relate it to a broader audience.

You can follow me on Twitter @adamjohnstonwpg or at www.adammjohnston.wordpress.com

Nissan e-NV200 Undergoing Largest Commercial Electric Van Trial

Originally published on EV Obsession by Zachary Shahan

Nissan, Gateshead College, British Gas, and Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Solutions have launched the largest commercial electric vehicle trial in the UK.

Don’t get too excited, it’s just a 28-vehicle trial, but it’s a start!

The trial is using Nissan’s e-NV200 vans, which are also going to be used in taxi pilot programs in Barcelona, where they are being manufactured, and New York City.

The vans are being included in the British Gas fleet, which totals about 13,000 vans! (Imagine if the pilot goes well.) Actually, British Gas intends to switch 10% of its fleet to electric by 2015.

28 British Gas engineers in the northeast of England, Glasgow, and West London have already received the electric vans. They will trial the e-NV200s for six months.

So, where does Gateshead College come in? Well, it trained the British Gas engineers on how to drive and live with the e-NV200s.

Gateshead College adds…

The vehicle is a breakthrough zero emission compact van that promises an 80% reduction in fuel costs  while also helping the environment by bringing CO2 emissions down to zero at the point of use. As British Gas home services engineers operate within a defined zone, the Nissan e-NV200 can easily operate within a British Gas’ daily usage pattern on just one charge.

We’re proud to be providing the vehicles for the UK’s largest ever electric commercial vehicle pilot in conjunction with our strategic partners.

Piloting such a large number of vans exclusively with British Gas in advance of the e-NV200 going on sale in 2014 underlines the closeness of our relationship and marks the final stages of the vehicle’s development.

Our engineers will take the feedback of the British Gas drivers to ensure we launch a vehicle perfectly suited to British road and business conditions.

With an expected harsh winter ahead, the 28 Nissan e-NV200s will be delivering home services around the country whatever the weather, demonstrating how strongly the 100% electric van can perform for large fleets with challenging daily routines. — Jim Wright, Nissan GB managing director

This article, Nissan e-NV200 Vans Getting Tested In UK’s Largest Commercial Electric Van Trial, is syndicated from Clean Technica and is posted here with permission.

About the Author

Zachary Shahan is the director of CleanTechnica, the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and Planetsave, a world-leading green and science news site. He has been covering green news of various sorts since 2008, and he has been especially focused on solar energy, electric vehicles, and wind energy for the past four years or so. Aside from his work on CleanTechnica and Planetsave, he’s the Network Manager for their parent organization – Important Media – and he’s the Owner/Founder of Solar Love, EV Obsession, and Bikocity. To connect with Zach on some of your favorite social networks, go to ZacharyShahan.com and click on the relevant buttons.