China's commerce ministry has decided not to renew punitive tariffs imposed on vehicles exported from the United States after the tariffs expired on November 14.
French billionaire Vincent Bollore is setting up the largest U.S. car-sharing program for electric vehicles
The program, beginning within eight months, will use as many as 500 of Bollore’s Bluecars and 1,000 charging stations
The U.S. arrival of the Bollore Group, which makes its own lithium metal polymer batteries for its electric cars, is the latest development in an emerging segment led by Tesla Motors, maker of the premium Model S sedan, and the Nissan Leaf electric hatchback. Bollore is counting on U.S. drivers who want access to a low-pollution alternative to gasoline-burning cars. They can be rented for as little as $10 an hour.
Bollore’s Bluecars, used in the Autolib car-share program in Paris, can travel about 150 miles per charge
Batteries made by Bollore’s Blue Solutions in France’s Brittany province are cheaper than lithium ion cells used in other electric cars, holding down the cost of his small vehicles
Along with expanding to other U.S. regions such as California, Bollore said he wants to offer his car-share service and electric vehicles to China and other markets.