California-based ClipperCreek announced June 14 the debut of what it terms as a “low cost” electric-vehicle (EV) recharger system for residential use.

Canadian state-owned utility, Hydro-Québec, and four major retail partners announced June 16 the launch of what will become a 100-station network for recharging electric vehicles (EVs), initially targeting Montréal and Québec city.

Following a failed experiment with compressed natural gas (CNG) technology, the city of Palm Desert, Calif., is returning to diesel power for a medical ambulance.

China-based BYD announced June 15 that it has signed a letter of intent to provide its “eBUS” electric buses to the city of Frankfurt, Germany.

China’s State Council this month proposed to eliminate usage tax on electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars, while extending a 50% cut in tax on conventional hybrids, starting Jan. 1, 2012.

U.S. crude stockpiles dropped by 1.7 million barrels – surpassing analyst forecasts for the third straight week – and refined product stocks were mixed, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) report for the week ended June 17.

NYMEX light sweet crude for August delivery finished at US$95.41 per barrel (/bbl), up $1.24 on June 22, tracking the weekly supply statistics from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showing a much greater than forecast drawdown in oil inventories and an unexpected drawdown in gasoline stocks.

Several bipartisan members of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce have introduced H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 which directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop achievable standards affecting 200,000 non-utility boilers and incinerators including those used throughout the energy industry.

EMPA – the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology – announced June 16 the release of a new biofuels lifecycle greenhouse-gas (GHG) calculator.