BRIGHT in the News 
1/24/2012 - Many experts believe plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are the best opportunity going forward to thwart expensive and volatile oil prices that likely will exceed $100 a barrel for the foreseeable future, meaning $4 a gallon gas at the pump nationwide sooner rather than later. "Yes, we are about cleaner energy," said Donoughe. "But our belief is that 'you have to be green to be green' – meaning it is not enough to be green environmentally, if you are not green economically. That is why it is crucially important that we are a smart play for businesses operating fleets of vehicles; from service professionals like Comcast and FedEx to your local plumber or florist." A typical business fleet currently spends about $5,000 to $7,000 annually on gasoline per vehicle. The Bright Idea PHEV saves $4,000 to $5,000 in fuel costs annually. For a small business that has 15 trucks in its fleet, this is significant operational savings. For larger businesses with 100 vehicles or more, the savings can reach a million dollars or more per year. For Federal and state government and public service fleets, totaling more than 400,000 vehicles with a target to be alternatively-fueled in the next few years, it represents literally billions of dollars in fuel costs saved for taxpayers. The Bright IDEA vehicle will be developed in Rochester Hills, Michigan, while its hybrid electric powertrain will be engineered in Anderson, Indiana. When production begins, it will be assembled in Indiana at a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. These new operations will conservatively create more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs and will be 100 percent U.S.-based.
1/20/2012 - The Bright IDEA will be assembled in Indiana, with engineering in Michigan and Indiana. We will create about 250 high-tech and 300 manufacturing jobs immediately, and they will be 100% U.S.-based. We are, however, facing considerable headwinds from political and media antagonists that could compromise Bright's ability to move forward, at least in this country. Our business plan has been thoroughly vetted by the government since submission in December 2008. We have received tremendous bipartisan support from all four senators from Indiana and Michigan. That support has helped us get the ball into the red zone, but not yet into the end zone. Opposition to the program, which threatens to cut or even kill it, could end our plan to develop and build our vehicle and create jobs in America. These loans are exactly the type of investments our government should be making -- supporting companies to advance proven technologies and create good jobs to help small business owners improve their operations. They are doing it in Germany, China and elsewhere. We must do it here in the U.S. to regain and retain our manufacturing base and competitive edge.
Detroit News- Energy Secretary defends auto loan program
1/11/2012 - On Dec. 27, Rochester Hills-based Bright sent a letter to the Energy Department requesting "the DOE's senior leadership's direct and immediate involvement in moving our application forward to completion." The company has been in talks for three years to win a loan. The company plans to produce a light-weight road-coupled plug-in commercial work truck in the U.S. that will create more than 675 American-based direct jobs and at least 2,700 indirect jobs. Bright said in its letter that the Energy Department in December "completed its credit paper and is awaiting an internal decision on the 'purpose of the ATVM program' before advancing the application" to the White House Office of Management and Budget. Bright warned that if it doesn't receive approval shortly "Bright will be forced to pursue its business plans outside of the United States to fulfill other market needs." Without a loan, "the jobs and technology that Bright would otherwise create will move to China."
Former HUMVEE Plant May Produce Plug-In Hybrid Vans
11/7/2011 - Once an icon of American materialism and consumption, the Hummer died an unceremonious death when GM killed the brand. It’s military cousin, the HUMVEE, produced by AM General, was not far behind, leaving behind several empty assembly plants across the country and opening the way for a more fuel-efficient replacement. But one of those plants, in northern Indiana, could be retooled to build Bright Automotive’s IDEA plug-in hybrid vans if a deal announced Friday goes through. From Gas Guzzlers To Fuel SippersBright Automotive is seeking a manufacturing facility to start churning out its IDEA plug-in hybrid vans, and approached AM General about its former HUMVEE manufacturing facility in northern Indiana. If a deal is reached, and Bright can secure enough venture capital and government loans, then the upstart automaker hopes to start producing its plug-in hybrid vans by 2013 or 2014. The factory could bring upwards of 300 jobs to the area.
Bright Automotive enters into agreement with AM General for Assembly of Bright IDEA
10/28/2011 - Bright Automotive, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement for AM General LLC to be Bright’s exclusive North American assembler for the Bright IDEA vehicle platform. The Bright IDEA is an all-new, plug-in hybrid electric work-truck which uses innovative technologies to provide businesses with a powerful new economic solution focused on the lowest total cost of ownership. AM General, a long-established contract vehicle assembler, military vehicle manufacturer and services provider, will build the Bright IDEA in its Commercial Assembly Plant in Mishawaka, Ind., under a contract assembly agreement with Bright Automotive. “We look forward to finalizing our funding to kick-start the introduction of our world-class PHEV work truck, saving U.S. businesses millions of dollars and creating new jobs in the heart of America,” said Reuben Munger, Bright Automotive CEO.
Wall Street Journal- Van Startup Strikes Deal For Assembly
10/28/2011 - Bright Automotive Inc., a startup developing plug-in, hybrid-electric delivery vans, reached an agreement to have its vehicles assembled by AM General LLC, the military contractor that produced the original Hummer. Bright, based in Rochester Hills, Mich., is one of several small companies looking to develop electric technology for commercial vehicles. Delivery trucks, work vans and other commercial vehicles are seen as more suited for electric vehicle technology than passenger cars because of the way companies use their fleets. Commercial fleets typically travel consistent routes with lots of stops and starts and many miles. That type of driving lends itself to faster payback because of the fuel savings is greater than with consumer electric vehicles. Commercial vehicles often are parked at night and on weekends, allowing for regular recharging. Two of the limitations of electric cars such as Nissan Motor Co.'s Leaf are the range they can travel and time it takes to recharge them. The Leaf can go about 80 miles before needing a charge that can take between four and eight hours. The manufacturing agreement is an important step. Last year the company received a $5 million investment from General Motors Co.'s investment arm, GM Ventures. AM General, of South Bend, Ind., develops military vehicles.
Lugar Praises Bright Automotive and AM General- US Senator Dick Lugar
10/28/2011 - U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar praised the agreement between Bright Automotive of Anderson, Ind. and AM General of Mishawaka, Ind. to assemble the Bright Idea vehicle at the AM General Mishawaka plant. “Today’s announced partnership between Bright Automotive and AM General restates what Hoosiers already know: Indiana is the home of automotive innovation and excellence. Bright’s progress in rethinking how vehicles can meet our needs shows the promise of how entrepreneurs can create jobs and revitalize Indiana’s automotive future. Vastly expanding fuel efficiency will help break our foreign oil addiction while also saving money for families and businesses.” Bright Automotive was founded as part of the innovative Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson, Indiana, where it continues high-tech research and testing. Lugar has worked closely with leaders at Flagship and Bright for several years as the in support of the company’s development of the Idea vehicle for civilian and military applications. Lugar has personally spoke with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to promote fair and meritorious treatment of Bright and other Indiana companies in their applications for Federal partnerships.
Car company's partnership with AM General could mean new jobs
10/28/2011 - ST. JOSEPH COUNTY – A Central Indiana company announced its plan Friday to build plug-in hybrid work trucks at AM General. A vice president with the startup company, BRIGHT Automotive, says the plan is to bring 300 jobs to St. Joseph County by early 2013. But it’s not a done deal. What’s happening at a laboratory in Anderson, Indiana could translate into hundreds of jobs at AM General. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to take an existing, beautiful facility with a well-trained work force and build our product there,” said Dave Lauzun, BRIGHT Automotive executive vice president of eSolutions, power train and advanced development. BRIGHT wants our local work force to build the hybrid work truck that plugs in and uses electricity for the first 40 miles, then changes over to a gasoline engine after that. “What’s so unique about our product is unlike a lot of other electric or hybrid electric vehicles out there, our vehicles saves the customer money every day they drive it,” Lauzun said.
Detroit Free Press- GM's venture capital fund invests millions in high-tech entrepreneurs
8/26/2011 - GM Ventures' Jon Lauckner promises that the venture-capital fund he runs isn't a "ZIP code investor." Still, four of the six firms in which General Motors has invested now have ties to the company's home state of Michigan. Sakti3, an electric-vehicle battery maker, is based in Ann Arbor and run by a University of Michigan professor. Powermat, which makes wireless charging mats for cell phones, has its sales headquarters in Commerce Township. And once GM Ventures was on board, plug-in hybrid developer Bright Automotive and solar-energy company Sunlogics both moved some operations to vacant space in Rochester Hills.
Wards Auto- Government EV Support going Away, Bright COO Predicts
8/3/2011 - TRAVERSE CITY, MI – U.S. government support for electric vehicles, in the form of loans to manufacturers and incentives for consumers, likely is drying up, Bright Automotive Chief Operating Officer Mike Donoughe says. Government backing of EVs “has to” disappear, Donoughe, a former Tesla executive, tells Ward’s following remarks to the Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars here. The rate of adoption of EVs such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt probably means the U.S. government’s per-car incentive of $7,500 will be cut off sooner rather than later, he tells the audience. California already has reduced its own EV consumer incentive from $5,000 to $2,500, as the state struggles to fund basics such as police and education. Donoughe describes himself as a “free-market guy, but I came to the pragmatic realization that across the world there’s not a lot of free markets.” He now espouses a “fair market” providing government loans and consumer incentives; without them, electric-vehicle and other advanced auto technology cannot take root.
BNET- Is a Solar-Powered Car Coming Soon?
8/2/2011 - It makes sense that the GM Ventures fund, launched last year with $100 million to spend, would put money into this kind of solar. Its other investments are also in not-quite-there-yet-for-the-car technologies (including solid-state EV batteries) that showcase its forward thinking. GM’s smartest money went into Bright Automotive, which builds a very smart plug-in hybrid panel truck that had been starved for development capital.
Cleantech Blog- Cleantech and the Future of GM
2/8/2011 - Jon Lauckner, President GM Ventures, said that GM now has a straightforward vision, “Design, build and sell the world’s best vehicles.” I took notes as he gave his keynote speech at the Clean Tech Investors Conference and asked him about GM’s investment priorities. To achieve GM’s vision, focus is now placed on four strategies: (1) a culture that is more aggressive and flexible, (2) customer focus, (3) Team GM, and (4) technology. Mr. Lauckner is focused on investing in innovative and early stage companies. He has been busy since GM Ventures was established last June and he was promoted from head of GM global product planning. GM Ventures has invested in Bright Automotive, which has designed an advanced plug-in hybrid delivery van with much greater cargo space than Ford’s Transit Connect Electric. GM has invested in two advanced next generation biofuel corporations – Mascoma and Coskata. Given the success of the Amyris IPO, these investments could should a high return for GM.
Autobloggreen- Great IDEA! Bright Automotive looking for 200 new employees
1/4/2011 - 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.
Bloomberg Businessweek- Bright Automotive creates 200 jobs
1/4/2011 - Bright Automotive is filling 200 jobs in Southeast Michigan over the next year to develop its plug-in electric hybrid vehicle to market. The company said its vehicle, called the IDEA, is tailored to the needs of fleet vehicle customers. The new jobs will be based in Rochester Hills, Mich., at Bright Automotive's new technical center, which will open in 2011. Along with its operations in Anderson, Indiana, the facility will serve as the primary center for research, design and development of the IDEA.
1/4/2011 - Bright Automotive is now hiring to fill 200 jobs in Southeast Michigan over the next year to bring its IDEA concept vehicle to market. The IDEA is an all-new, efficient, plug-in electric hybrid vehicle tailored to the needs of fleet vehicle customers. Bright Automotive's unique approach to designing and developing the vehicle focuses holistically on the total vehicle by emphasizing the benefits of lightweight materials, aerodynamics, system operating efficiencies and powertrain performance. "Bright Automotive is building a team that is innovative, collaborative and entrepreneurial to engineer and bring to market its transportation solution focused on reducing fleet operating costs and improving efficiency while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact of operation," said COO Mike Donoughe. "As a symbol for change in the automotive industry, our expanding company is seeking individuals who thrive in an environment of creativity, growth, and shared objectives." The 200 positions will be based in Rochester Hills, Mich., at the new technical center the company recently announced its plans to open in 2011. Along with its operations in Anderson, Indiana, the facility will serve as the primary center for research, design and development of the IDEA.
Rochester Hills Patch- Bright Automotive's Investment to Bring Jobs, Innovation
12/8/2010 - A startup auto company will bring jobs and an aura of innovation to Rochester Hills early next year. It will also bring new life to the former Chrysler call center in the University Technological Park on Hamlin Road. That building has been empty for about a year. Anderson, IN-based Bright Automotive has plans to open a 62,105-square-foot technical center in the first quarter of 2011 and create 204 jobs — mostly engineering positions. The tech center's focus will be engineering, research, design, development and testing for the new Bright IDEA, a 100-mpg plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
RM Rochester Media- Bright Automotive to Develop New Hybrid in Rochester Hills
11/24/2010 - Bright Automotive, Inc. (Bright) is a new American company comprised of experienced automotive entrepreneurs who are responding to our nation’s growing energy and environmental demands. They have developed a 100+ mile per gallon, purpose-built, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for use in commercial and government fleets. This revolutionary product is a ground-up vehicle design with optimized platform physics, including: light weighting, best-in-class aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tires, and sustainable materials. Bright is able to deliver this vehicle, at scale with world-class quality, superior to any product in its class. The Bright PHEV (a Class 1-2a van product) not only provides breakthrough efficiency and low cost of ownership, it is also designed to return stored energy back to the electrical grid, potentially reducing peak energy demand and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Bright’s breakthrough automotive technology also provides enormous fuel savings and emission reductions for America’s national fleets.
The Oakland Press- Asking for a ‘Bright’ future at Rochester Hills site
11/20/2010 - Bright Automotive, a Colorado start-up touting a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle called the IDEA, will ask Rochester Hills City Council on Monday for a tax abatement in exchange for locating a new headquarters and technical center in the city. The company has chosen a vacant building in the city’s University Technology Park that was formerly occupied by Chrysler. The company will make a presentation to council during a public hearing Monday. Bright is seeking a two-year, 100 percent tax abatement on personal property, primarily computers and software, which would be purchased for the building. If approved, the abatement is expected to satisfy the requirement for a local match required as part of a state tax-incentive package. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority on Wednesday announced the approval of a $4.3 million, five-year tax credit, which is expected to create 200 jobs at the company. Dan Casey, the city’s economic development manager, said the building has been vacant for more than a year, after Chrysler got out of its lease during bankruptcy.
Mlive.com- Granholm plugs MEGA tax incentives in weekly radio address
11/19/2010 - In her weekly radio address today, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm credited efforts of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) with diversifying Michigan's economy and creating jobs. “These MEGA tax credits help Michigan compete with other states – and even foreign nations – for new companies or the expansion of Michigan businesses,” Granholm said. “A company can use the credit only if it creates or retains a certain number of jobs, and the tax revenue generated more than offsets the cost of the credit.” 0 Share 6 Comments She highlighted projects around the state where incentives have helped diversify Michigan’s economy and create new jobs, such as Bright Automotive's proposed new technical center in Rochester Hills.
The Oakland Press-Hybrid electric car project to bring 200 jobs to Rochester Hills
11/17/2010 - Bright Automotive Inc. of Anderson, Ind., is preparing to open a new technical center in Rochester Hills, creating as many as 200 new jobs. The firm’s principal product, the IDEA, is a brand-new, 100-mpg plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) fleet vehicle and it has already lined up contracts for prototypes with the U.S. Postal Service. The Michigan Economic Growth Authority has already given it preliminary approval for assistance for the project. Bright’s chief operating officer, Mike Donoughe, a veteran automotive executive with more than 28 years experience at U.S. Steel, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz Car Group, and Tesla Motors, is heading up the Rochester Hills project. At Chrysler, Donoughe served as vice president of multiple product teams, leading them in the creation of numerous vehicles including the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica, the 2005 Dodge and Chrysler minivans with the industry-first Stow n' Go system, the 2007 Jeep Wrangler, and the 2009 Dodge Ram. The IDEA is described as a purpose-built, lightweight, aerodynamic, all-aluminum light commercial vehicle. Last year, Bright was awarded a contract by the United States Postal Service to develop and test an electric postal delivery vehicle. Under the contract, Bright will retrofit a standard USPS Long Life Vehicle (LLV) with its integrated electric drive train, and place the vehicle in real-world service for one year in the Washington DC area.
Crains Detroit Business- 500 new jobs on way, aided by tax credits
11/17/2010 - A $28.3 million investment by a Bloomfield Hills-based manufacturer of paper products was among $420.6 million in projects statewide that were announced Wednesday by state officials and approved for tax breaks. The projects, which went before the board of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, in Southeast Michigan included: An $11 million investment by Anderson, Ind.-based Bright Automotive Inc. The company, which has developed a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, plans to bring its headquarters to Rochester Hills and open a technical center, creating 204 jobs.
Inside Indiana Business- Hoosier Technology Helping to Modernize Military
11/5/2010 - Bright Automotive developed the IDEA, a multi-purpose, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle aimed at commercial and government fleets. The prototype the U.S. Army is reviewing and testing has more features, like a custom battery pack and integrated vehicle to grid capabilities. Director of Special Projects Sean Conway says the vehicle could be recharged or pass energy to a grid at a remote location, allowing troops greater flexibility in the field. Conway says the military prototype has a tremendous amount of energy that can be used for more than just spinning its wheels. He says the DOD is Bright’s most important customer right now. The company has a contract to refine the vehicle systems to near production-intent and Conway says that means an enormous hiring potential.
Inside Indiana Business- Bright Delivers "IDEA" to Military
10/4/2010 - Bright Automotive announced today that it has delivered a prototype electrified vehicle, based on the Bright IDEA’s plug-in hybrid architecture, to the U.S. Army for review and testing. The company also announced that based on its performance in developing the vehicle, the Department of Defense has awarded a new contract to refine the hybrid and vehicle systems to near production-intent. Bright Automotive, under contract, is working with the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research Development & Engineering Center’s (TARDEC) National Automotive Center (NAC) to develop a vehicle for non-tactical, transport applications. The vehicle is a commercial utility vehicle retrofitted with plug-in hybrid powertrain based on the Bright IDEA. It features a number of technologies developed by Bright — including a custom battery pack, 50+ mpg efficiency, and integrated vehicle to grid (V2G) capabilities — that could improve base transportation efficiency and, in the event of an emergency, provide temporary power to the base electrical grid.
Government Fleet- U.S. Army Receives Prototype Plug-In Hybrid Conversion
10/4/2010 - The U.S. Army has been delivered a prototype electrified vehicle from Bright Automotive for review and testing. Based on its performance in developing the vehicle, the Department of Defense has awarded a new contract to refine the hybrid and vehicle systems to near production-intent, according to a release from Bright Automotive. Bright Automotive is working under contract with the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research Development & Engineering Center's (TARDEC) National Automotive Center (NAC) to develop a vehicle for non-tactical, transport applications. The vehicle is a commercial utility vehicle retrofitted with plug-in hybrid powertrain based on the company's Bright IDEA, a multi-purpose, plug-in hybrid EV aimed at commercial and government fleets. It features technologies such as a custom battery pack, 50+ mpg efficiency, and integrated vehicle to grid (V2G) capabilities that could improve base transportation efficiency and provide temporary power to the base electrical grid in the event of an emergency.
National Geographic - Light is the Bright IDEA for Transport
9/21/2010 - When exploring a European city, one of the many differences an American might notice is how people get around. Look a little closer, and the traveler might notice differences in how things get around, too. While full-sized trucks and vans commonly deliver goods in U.S. cities, a more varied fleet that includes smaller, more efficient vans does the job in Europe, as in most markets outside North America. A company in Anderson, Indiana, called Bright Automotive, which recently scored the first investment from General Motors’ new venture capital arm, aims to help steer commercial fleets toward more efficient options by decoupling size from efficiency. In other words, it lets customers have their cake (sip less fuel) and eat it too (carry more stuff). To accomplish this, Bright is developing a plug-in hybrid van called the IDEA with advanced materials that could shave thousands of pounds off the weight of conventional counterparts.
Autobloggreen- Ex-Tesla, Chrysler exec Mike Donoughe joins Bright Automotive as COO
8/12/2010 - 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.
NY Times- G.M. Invests in Plug-In Hybrid Start-Up
8/4/2010 - Bright Automotive, whose efforts to launch a plug-in hybrid delivery truck were thwarted by funding problems, is back on track because of a $5 million infusion from General Motors‘ new venture capital division, G.M. Ventures. Established in 2008 with considerable momentum as a spinoff of the Rocky Mountain Institute with backing from Duke Energy, Google, Johnson Controls and the Turner Foundation, Bright showed a prototype last year, but ran into the effects of the recession as Bright sought to build the van. The company said the plug-in hybrid vehicle, named the Idea, was expected to achieve 38 miles of range in battery-only mode, then another 300 or more with the 4-cylinder gas engine (now certain to come from G.M.) running.
EV WORLDwire- GM Invests in Bright Automotive Plug-in Hybrid Van
8/3/2010 - For more than a decade, Amory Lovins has argued that by using innovative materials, it is possible to build more energy efficient vehicles that are lighter, yet just a safer, if not safer than traditional Detroit iron. His Rocky Mountain Institute team even spun off a group to develop his Hypercar® concept, but beyond that exercise, few people in the car industry listened, with the exception of one John Waters. Water's fingerprints are all over the revival of the modern electric car, from General Motor's EV1, to the Hypercar® , to the Bright Automotive's IDEA panel van, pictured above. He founded Bright with the specific goal of implementing Lovins' concepts into a commercial vehicle: the IDEA. But Bright, based in Anderson, Indiana, was forced, like so many other promising projects caught in the maelstrom of the 2008 global financial meltdown, into a development limbo of sorts. It had applied for Energy Department section 136 funding for electric vehicle manufacturing, but found itself passed over with funds going to Fisker and Tesla for their facilities instead. This Spring, Water's relinquished his position as CEO of Bright to the Chairman of the Board, Reuben Munger.
CNN money- GM makes a move into electric trucks
8/3/2010 - As it prepares to begin sales of the Chevrolet Volt electric car later this year, General Motors is also getting into electric delivery vans with a $5 million investment in Indiana-based Bright Automotive. GM and Bright announced a strategic partnership Wednesday. Bright Automotive of Indiana plans to begin selling its van in 2013. Called the Bright IDEA, the van can travel up to 38 miles on electric power from a fully charged battery pack. For traveling longer distances, the van switches to a gasoline/electric hybrid mode in which it can get up to 36 miles per gallon, according to the company. Total range, including electric and gasoline-powered driving, is about 400 miles, according to Bright.
Autoblog Green- GM, Bright Automotive talk details about $5m investment, Idea van partnership
8/3/2010 - 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.
General Motors and Bright Automotive Announce Strategic Relationship
8/3/2010 - Detroit, MI and Anderson, IN — Bright Automotive and General Motors today announced they have agreed to pursue a strategic relationship and that GM has provided funding to the Indiana automaker. This is the first funding action by the newly-formed General Motors Ventures, LLC, and it will help accelerate Bright’s production of the IDEA, a revolutionary plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle. “This relationship is an important step forward for Bright, and a strong endorsement of our highly experienced automotive team and our incredible vehicle,” said Reuben Munger, Bright Automotive Chairman and CEO. “With this deal, Bright gets financial support that puts us on the fast-track toward mass production of the IDEA. And perhaps just as importantly, we gain a strategic partner that is a world leader in electrification.”
Wall Street Journal- GM to Invest in Hybrid-Car Maker
8/3/2010 - General Motors Co. said Tuesday it will invest $5 million in an Indiana auto maker building a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle. Bright Automotive will be the first company funded by a $100 million venture-capital fund GM launched last month to help spur development of new technologies. Venture-capital companies provide start-up money and early funding to fledgling firms that have yet to offer stock to the public. Under the deal, General Motors Ventures LLC will have a minority stake in Bright Automotive and Bright will have access to certain GM technology. Bright is developing a van-like plug-in, called the IDEA. GM funding will allow Bright to ramp up production in the next few months, the companies said. IDEA can operate on battery power for 40 miles and switch to hybrid mode where it would get an estimated 36 miles per gallon. GM, looking to launch its own initial public offering this year, has begun investing more into product development and technology after deep cutbacks amid last year's bankruptcy. It plans to begin selling the Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric car, later this year. With the venture-capital fund, GM hopes relatively small investments will deliver access to new automotive technologies. Other major companies, including Google Inc., have implemented similar programs, though the practice is unusual in the car industry.
Businessgreen.com - Congressional leaders give electric cars a boost
6/9/2010 - A bi-partisan collection of Congressional leaders dubbed the " Electrification Coalition" has given the electric vehicle movement in the US new energy with the introduction of new legislation designed to accelerate the deployment of EVs in key markets. A pair of bills were last week introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives, titled the Electric Vehicle Deployment Act and the Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act, respectively. The legislation proposes that communities should be given up to $800m (£554m) to introduce electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, while consumers would receive up to $2,000 in federal tax credits for the purchase of EV chargers. Under the new bills, businesses would also be given up to $50,000 to install multiple chargers, while a $1.5bn fund would be created to support battery research. The legislation would also incentivise utilities and businesses to work together to roll out charging infrastructure, and would provide up to $5bn in loans for companies that retrofit or introduce new plants to produce electric vehicles. The proposed legislation was praised by advocates of electric transport, including Bright Automotive, and A123 Systems, which resides in Massachusetts, the home state of Representative Edward Markey, one of the congressional sponsors of the legislation.
Flagship Enterprise Center - Indiana Company Earns Contract to Electrify Postal Vehicle
4/22/2010 - The climbing cost of postal stamps in recent years plus the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) plan to reduce street delivery to five days a week is evidence the organization is struggling to cut costs and maintain its viability in the age of e-mail. Anderson-based Bright Automotive believes it has a solution that would move the USPS into the future and slash millions of dollars from its annual budget: electrifying its142,000 mail delivery trucks—the world’s largest civilian vehicle fleet.
Inside Indiana Business - Electric Vehicle on Display at Children's Museum
4/19/2010 - Numerous green programs, displays and activities are taking place this week at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis to mark Earth Week. Visitors can check out Anderson-based Bright Automotive Inc.'s new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The company says the IDEA is designed to reach 100 miles per gallon and should be released by 2013.
Bright Automotive Chairman Reuben Munger Named CEO, as Company Explores Strategic Partnerships
4/13/2010 - Bright Automotive today announced that company Chairman Reuben Munger has been named Chief Executive Officer as the company explores strategic partnerships. John E. Waters, who served as CEO and President since founding the company in 2008, continues in a leadership role, serving as Vice Chairman.
MSNBC - Indiana stakes claim to become home of emerging electric-car industry
3/11/2010 - The so-called "RV Capital of the World" may soon be able to bill itself the "EV Capital of the World." What a difference a letter makes.
Business Fleet - Bright Automotive Partners With U.S. Postal Service
3/11/2010 - The United States Postal Service (USPS) awarded Bright Automotive with a contract to develop and test an electric postal delivery vehicle. Under the contract, Bright Automotive's eSolutions team will retrofit a standard USPS Long Life Vehicle (LLV) with its integrated electric drive train, and place the vehicle in service for one year in the Washington, D.C. area.
Wired Autopia - Postal Service Gets a Bright Idea for EVs
3/8/2010 - The postal service likes the Bright Idea and wonders if it would make a good delivery truck. The U.S. Postal Service has invited Bright Automotive to put an electric drivetrain in a standard-issue mail truck. Once the truck is ready to roll, the postal service will add it to its fleet for real-world testing in the Washington, DC area. The company joins the EV pioneers at AC Propulsion in developing prototype trucks for the postal service, which is considering ways to begin electrifying its fleet of 142,000 vehicles.
Green Car Congress: EDAG partners with Bright Automotive
3/8/2010 - The US Postal Service has awarded EDAG one of the five contracts for an electric postal delivery vehicle (LLV); EDAG is partnering with Bright Automotive on that contract.
Autoblog Green - Bright Automotive latest to get USPS contract for electric truck conversion
3/5/2010 - 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.
Fast Company - USPS Teams Up With Bright Automotive for Electric Delivery Vehicles
3/5/2010 - The U.S. Postal Service is continuing on its quest to convert some of its 142,000 vehicles to electric models with a partnership with Bright Automotive, the manufacturer of the upcoming IDEA plug-in hybrid for commercial and government fleets . The auto startup will retrofit a standard USPS vehicle with an electric drivetrain and send out it out on the streets of Washington, D.C. for a year of testing. If all goes well, the Postal Service might have Bright convert even more of its vehicles to all-electric models.
Examiner.com - Bright Automotive plug-in electric (PHEV) fleet vehicle with Bridgestone Ecopia tires
3/4/2010 - One of the more interesting innovations on display at the recent 2010 Chicago Auto Show (CAS) was a collaboration between Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) and Bright Automotive. The IDEA a brand-new, 100-mpg plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) fleet vehicle outfitted with Bridgestone’s Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia tires.
autobloggreen - Chicago 2010: Bridgestone's new tires can improve fuel economy by four percent
2/11/2010 - 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.
The Herald Bulletin - Obama official tours Bright during Anderson visit
2/4/2010 - An Obama administration official got a behind-the-scenes look at the cutting-edge technology that Bright Automotive wants to put on the road if it can get the federal assistance to build its plug-in hybrid van. Teno Villarreal, special assistant for the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, spent the day in Anderson on Wednesday, finishing with a stop at the Flagship office of Bright. Company officials told Villarreal they hoped to receive funding that would allow them to create as many as 6,000 jobs related to the Idea, Bright’s original design for a light, efficient and environmentally friendly utility van.
Bright Automotive’s IDEA Van Wants To Make Your Light-Duty Commercial Fleet More Efficient
2/1/2010 - Need a more efficient, more economical light-duty vehicle for your commercial fleet? Bright Automotive thinks it has the best wheels for the job with the IDEA, a plug-in hybrid delivery van with a few clever tricks up its sleeve. Uncomfortable, poor mileage and antiquated utility features - those are just some of the common complaints about most existing light-duty transport machines. This new vehicle addresses all of those issues at the same time, as it its makers attempt to position it on top of this very lucrative automotive market.
Globe Net - Another Bright Idea Hits the Road
2/1/2010 - If you were a hybrid vehicle manufacturer, and you wanted to lower the world's CO2 emissions, would you first... a) Try to replace all the privately-owned gas vehicles, that mostly just drive to and from workplaces, one vehicle at a time, or... b) Replace entire corporate fleets of gas delivery vehicles, that typically spend all day, every day, on the road? Well, you're supposed to answer "b". That's what Indiana-based Bright Automotive wants to do with their plug-in hybrid delivery van, the IDEA. And now that they're close to signing a pact with an unnamed major automaker, they're one step closer to realizing that vision.
Fleet Owner - Bright’s IDEA to hit truck market in 2013
1/29/2010 - WASHINGTON D.C. The IDEA, a new aerodynamically shaped plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) delivery van concept developed by Bright Automotive, aims to have its prototype ready for production in the first quarter of 2013, the company said. The sleekly-styled van, first introduced in April 2009, recently received a technology upgrade so it can deliver 40 mi. of all-electric range and nearly 40 miles per gallon (mpg) operating in standard hybrid mode, Lyle Shuey, Bright’s vp-marketing & sales, told FleetOwner here at the Washington Auto Show.
Advanced Battery Applications Weekly - Interview with John E. Waters, CEO
1/22/2010 - Interview with John E. Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive: Bright Automotive has developed two businesses: 1) our IDEA program is developing a new breakthrough grid-connected vehicle platform for the B2B (fleet) market, while our eSolutions business is providing engineering and consulting services to companies transforming their own business models towards electrification. Our company is focused on breakthrough innovation with IP centered on software controls and system integration leveraging an experienced team that has launched numerous vehicles and energy storage solutions in their careers. We are based in central Indiana, which is increasingly being known as the "Silicon Valley" of vehicle electrification (someone mentioned it should be called the "Lithium Valley" in reference to multiple lithium and other battery companies).
Automotive News - Bright Automotive close to pact with a major automaker, chairman says
1/13/2010 - DETROIT -- Bright Automotive Inc., an engineering services company that is developing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is on the verge of an agreement with an unnamed major automaker on a joint venture or acquisition, Chairman Reuben Munger told Automotive News today. The agreement, which likely will be completed in the next six months, comes as Bright awaits a U.S. Energy Department decision on its application for a $280 million loan to build a manufacturing facility and develop its vehicles, he said.
CNN Money - What we'll drive next - Electric shock for a staid industry
12/21/2009 - Delivery vehicles are the perfect place to test electric car technology. In April 2009, Bright Automotive announced its new IDEA delivery van to much fanfare. The vehicle gets 40 miles on a single charge and also features a standard hybrid battery that is recharged by a gasoline engine -- like a Prius. Running on gas, the IDEA fetches nearly 40 mpg.
The Herald Bulletin - Bright CEO: Entrepreneurship must be inspired
12/4/2009 - While starting a new business takes money and capable workers, it also requires more intangible assets, according to the president and CEO of a local automotive start-up company. “The essence of entrepreneurship is freedom, but it must be inspired by vision, passion and creativity,” said John Waters, who started plug-in hybrid car developer Bright Automotive.
Earth2Tech - VW Takes a Stab at Lightweight, Aerodynamic Design With “Up! Lite”
12/2/2009 - The way Volkswagen describes its latest concept car — the Up! Lite diesel hybrid coup unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show — you might think the German automaker has taken some cues from the American startups Aptera Motors and Bright Automotive. VW says in its release that the Up! Lite design (variation in the same family as the electric E-Up! concept shown in Frankfurt this year), “underscores just how fascinating a car tuned to aerodynamic perfection can look,” and features ultra lightweight body construction.
Composites World - SPE ACCE 2009 Show Highlights
11/16/2009 - The 8th annual Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE), presented jointly by the Automotive and Composites divisions of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and organized around the theme “Plug in to Composites,” focused the spotlight on hybrid and electric vehicles from startups in a year when the future of legacy auto OEMs is a hot topic.
CNN - 6 hot electric car start-ups
11/4/2009 - Bright is aiming at the commercial market with this plug-in hybrid van called the Bright Idea. It's targeted at big companies that buy vehicles in bulk, an area that Bright says has been ignored by other electric automakers. Bright boasts of working with companies like Duke Energy and Johnson Controls to help design its vans.
EcoGeek - Bright Doling Out Advice to Army, Automakers
10/28/2009 - Bright Automotive, best known for its 100-mpg IDEA plug-in utility van, announced a new $1.4 million contract with the U.S. Army to build a plug-in hybrid for non-combat use. The PHEV will be designed to cut Army fuel consumption as well as to demonstrate how an EV could potentially feed power back to the grid. The project is part of an Army initiative to explore how bases could eventually run off-grid.
The Green Car Website - US Army commits to a Bright future
10/27/2009 - When most people think of US Army vehicles, they naturally picture gas guzzling tanks or far from fuel efficient patrol vehicles. However, that may be about to change.
The Herald Bulletin - Bright Automotive lands $1.4 million Army contract
10/26/2009 - ANDERSON, Ind. – Anderson-based Bright Automotive has landed a $1.4 million contract with the U.S. Army to conduct a demonstration project on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Cleantech - Bright Automotive scores military contract
10/26/2009 - Anderson, Ind.-based Bright Automotive said today the U.S. Army's department of Tactical Communications (TACOM) plans to test the startup's plug-in hybrid vehicles in non-combat situations.
gas 2.0 - Bright’s Plug-in Hybrid Delivery Van Delivers: 40-Mile All-Electric Range, 40 MPG
10/26/2009 - Indiana-based Bright Automotive has released some pretty impressive performance figures for its technically (and aerodynamically!) slick new IDEA cargo van. Aimed primarily at delivery fleets and in-town rental companies, the freshly-upgraded guppy promises to shave operating costs by thousands of dollars per year, per van.
Electricnick, The EV Revolution - Bright Idea, The Numbers
10/22/2009 - Bright Automotive has announced updated technology and numbers on its Idea Cargo, plug-in hybrid, PHEV. The gist is that Bright Automotive is looking at the electric drive revolution in a pragmatic way, via fleets and cargo space. With the introduction of its Idea Cargo based on a plug-in hybrid, PHEV platform, the company aims squarely at businesses interested in cutting down on gas costs.
autobloggreen - Quick Spin: newly upgraded Bright IDEA delivers
10/21/2009 - 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.
Mother Nature Network - Is this the most eco-friendly delivery van in the world?
10/20/2009 - “Be careful, that’s a $2 million vehicle!” Not only did I know it was worth that much, I was fully aware that the prototype plug-in hybrid I was about to drive represented the hopes, dreams and aspirations of a small team of Bright Automotive employees in Anderson, Indiana, a Rust Belt town that Detroit forgot (when General Motors cut 20,000 jobs). Michael Moore could have a field day there.
The Herald Bulletin - Bright Automotive upgrades IDEA performance
10/20/2009 - ANDERSON, Ind. — Anderson-based Bright Automotive says it has improved the performance of its plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Idea. On Tuesday, Bright said the vehicle can now travel 40 miles using electric power only in “EV mode,” thanks to a new 13 kilowatt-hour battery pack. After the 40-mile threshold, the Idea will travel 36 miles per gallon in “standard hybrid” mode.
INDYSTAR.com - Anderson startup boosts output of plug-in hybrid
10/20/2009 - Anderson start-up Bright Automotive said it has tweaked its proposed work van to travel 40 miles on battery power, up from 30 miles in an earlier experimental version.
BNET - A Bright Future? Indiana Plug-In Hybrid Company Needs Government Funding.
10/20/2009 - INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA—John Waters, President of Bright Automotive, stops the car in an industrial pocket of Indianapolis and gestures at a nondescript building. “Right there is where we built the batteries for the General Motors EV-1 battery car. In that building, we tested the first large-format lithium-ion batteries that were used on the Segway. And over there, we electrified anything with wheels on it: sports cars, trucks, golf carts.”
Greentech Media: How to Improve Car Mileage: Aluminum and Composites
10/2/2009 - Weight is the third fuel. Although many companies are promoting batteries and biofuels as a way to wean the world off of fossil fuels, mass and aerodynamics play a significant, if often unrecognized role, in increasing mileage, according to Mike Brylawski, the vice president of corporate strategy at Bright Automotive. We interviewed him during Reinventing Fire, a conference being held by the Rocky Mountain Institute in San Francisco. Bright is designing a lightweight, hybrid delivery van slated to come out in 2013. It will drive 40 miles on electric power and then 40-miles on a combination of gas and electric power, similar to how a Prius drives. Bright spun out of RMI earlier this year. Vans only get around 10 to 16 miles per gallon, so increasing mileage in these kinds of cars can translate into massive cuts in liquid fuel consumption. 900,000 new delivery vehicles get sold a year in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, he added.
msnbc - Energy guru says green needn’t be grim
9/29/2009 - If someone told you America's long-term energy needs could be met without oil or nuclear power, would you think he was crazy? The craziest thing about Amory Lovins is that he says the financial numbers prove it.
Detroit Free Press - Consumers wait on electrics as companies build their fleets
9/27/2009 - While it could take years for everyday consumers to shell out their money for a new electric vehicle — that will most certainly come with an initial price premium — businesses like AT&T, Frito-Lay, Staples, utilities and others are lining up for new models. For consumers, electric vehicles compete against fuel-efficient alternatives that cost less.
The New York Times - Electric Utilities Commit to Plug-In Hybrids
9/25/2009 - To take off, the emerging electric vehicle market will need early adopters, and two Southern-based utilities just stepped up to the plate. FPL Group, the company that includes Florida Power and Light, and Duke Energy, which serves 11 million people in the South and Midwest, together operate about 10,000 vehicles. And they said this week that by 2020 all new purchases of fleet vehicles will be plug-in hybrid or all-electric.
Charlotte Business Journal - Duke, FPL Group invest $600M in green vehicles
9/24/2009 - Duke Energy Corp. and Florida energy supplier FPL Group Inc. plan to convert nearly 10,000 road vehicles in their fleets to electric power by 2020.
The New York Times - Utilities Make Big Bets on Electric Vehicles
9/24/2009 - Duke Energy Corp. and FPL Group Inc., two of the nation's largest electric utilities, said today they will transition their entire automobile fleets to plug-in hybrid and full-electric vehicles.
9/9/2009 - TROY (DETROIT), MICH. - With the current focus on significantly increasing fuel economy and reducing tailpipe emissions for ground transportation, much effort is being expended on reimagining passenger vehicles as both traditional and new automakers rush to fill an emerging market need. This leaves the delivery-vehicle segment wide open and much in need of a makeover - a niche that startup automaker Bright Automotive (Anderson, Ind.) is positioning itself to serve.
BNET - Bright's Big Plug-In Hybrid Production Plans (Conversions, Too)
9/4/2009 - When President Obama announced on the campaign trail that he wanted to see a million plug-in hybrids on American roads by 2015, people—especially in the auto industry—thought he was dreaming. One company that is taking the goal seriously reports Autoblog.com, is Bright Automotive.
autobloggreen - Bright Automotive has an IDEA to put 150,000 PHEVs on the road by 2015
9/1/2009 - 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.
Examiner.com - A Bright IDEA gets even better with time
8/16/2009 - Bright Automotive is the up and rising team that is a perfect reminder of what makes America strong, entrepreneurship, experience and vision. The gist is the team was at the Plug In 2009 conference and were impressing many with the DNA the company has to offer.
INDYSTAR.com - Heed a Bright Idea
8/13/2009 - John Waters pressed his business card into President Barack Obama's hand at last week's economic stimulus rally in Wakarusa. The founder of Bright Automotive, whose hybrid electric Idea delivery van gets 100 miles per gallon, then made his pitch for consideration of the company's $450 million federal loan from a special technology program Congress created in 2007. The meeting lasted less than a minute.
Examiner.com - Wrapping Up Plug In 2009
8/13/2009 - Plug In 2009 comes to an end and leaves us a clearer picture of where the industry is. The conference was about the state of the industry and it is obvious how much it has changed from a year ago.
Clean Green Cars - VW to benefit from a Bright IDEA
8/12/2009 - Bright Automotive may only be considered a start-up company, but it is about to have a significant impact on one of the most important car manufacturers in the world - Volkswagen.
The Washington Post - Small Firms Take Big Electric Leap
8/8/2009 - Upstart Automakers Face Long Odds in Wresting Energy-Efficient Niche From Giants
Reuters - DOE Finances 'Old Guard' Auto Companies as Startups Lose Out
8/7/2009 - Some automotive entrepreneurs are feeling like when it comes to getting DOE funding, it's who, not what you know.
INDYSTAR.com - Closing the gap between rhetoric and reality
8/6/2009 - Let's hope the reality of developing a new generation of electric cars in the United States someday matches President Barack Obama's optimistic rhetoric delivered Wednesday in Wakarusa.
INDYSTAR.com - My View: Plugged into the future of auto technology
8/5/2009 - While Detroit automakers struggle to find their footing, Indiana companies have been advancing the future of automotive technology for years.
Bright in TIME.com - The Coming New New Economy
8/4/2009 - Author Kurt Andersen's new book, Reset: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America, examines the economic, political and cultural opportunities to be found in the wake of the financial crises. In this excerpt, the second of five pieces to appear on TIME.com, he examines the corporate ingenuity that often arises in the wake of fiscal disaster.
Detroit Free Press - Invest in auto entrepreneurs
7/29/2009 - Today, an opportunity exists for the United States to once again take the lead. In late 2007, Congress took a bold and bipartisan step to stimulate the development of advanced vehicles. Section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act empowered the Department of Energy to provide $25 billion in loans to manufacturers of advanced technology, fuel-efficient vehicles.
BNET Auto - Five Tips for Starting a Car Company
7/21/2009 - San Francisco,Ca,USA - What I like about Bright Automotive is that its vehicle is, well, a panel van, albeit the world's first plug-in hybrid one. But long before the vehicle ...
The Herald Bulletin - Three Anderson businesses ‘Companies to Watch’
7/14/2009 - ANDERSON — Three Anderson companies were named to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s “Companies to Watch” list Tuesday.
Mother Nature Network - Plugging in, taking off: Eight electric vehicle startups to watch
7/6/2009 - We’re in Silicon Valley, and the setting is a nondescript industrial park. The office looks like all the rest, though it invariably has a garage attached to it. This is the scene for numerous electric vehicle (EV) startups, many of them headed by California tech refugees. I hear from them nearly every day now. It’s an entrepreneurial field day not seen since, well, the tech startups of the 1990s—which took place in exactly the same place.
The Christian Science Monitor - What the future of the auto industry will look like
7/2/2009 - WASHINGTON; AND ANDERSON, IND. - John Waters is leaning against a vehicle that looks like a delivery van as imagined by Pixar Animation. The IDEA – that’s its name – is blocky, yet curved, with wheel skirts and a little upswoop at the back that adds attitude. You can almost hear it speaking in a chirpy cartoon voice.
6/22/2009 - ANDERSON - Bright Automotive is marketing its homegrown hybrid to the world. Officials from the Anderson-based startup traveled to Iceland last week to discuss bringing its plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle, the Idea, to Europe. Bright developed the lead during the EVS-24 conference in Stavenger, Norway, which ran May 13-16.
SAE International - Prototype PHEV fleet van gets 100 mpg
6/5/2009 - Bright Automotive, a year-and-a-half-old start-up company based in Anderson, IN, recently introduced a prototype plug-in hybrid van for commercial fleet use that is expected to travel 50 mi (80 km) on 0.5 gal (1.9 L) of gasoline. Stoked on government loans, the start-up projects yearly sales of 50,000 IDEA light commercial trucks by 2013.
Greentech Media - Lightweight Automaker Bright Wants Stimulus Too—$35M
6/1/2009 - Bright Automotive, the automotive spin-out from the Rocky Mountain Institute, has applied for $35 million in grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, everyone's favorite piece of legislation.
Reuters - Bright Automotive Applies for Stimulus Package Grants to Accelerate Production
6/1/2009 - Bright Automotive today announced it has applied for $35 million in government grants in support of the President's goal to put one million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) on the road by 2015.
Greentech Media -The Myth of Electric Vehicle Subsidies
5/28/2009 - Niche vehicles and utility fleets could be the tipping point for electric vehicles sales. But it won’t take subsidies, according to automakers.
The Hearld Bulletin - Bright hires battery development VP
5/21/2009 - ANDERSON - Bright Automotive announced Thursday it has hired Evan House as vice president for battery development.
fleetnews.co.uk - 100mpg Hybrid Van Launched
5/19/2009 - The Idea, a multi-use LCV designed to be run by urban-based delivery fleets with typical round journeys of 50 miles, is claimed to be between five and 10 times more efficient than current combustion engine powered vans.
National Journal - Is Obama's goal achievable?
5/2/2009 - In mid-April, Bright Automotive CEO John Waters went to Capitol Hill to introduce his company's high-tech van, a plug-in hybrid that he says will travel 100 miles on a gallon of gasoline and produce only one-third as much global-warming pollution as a conventional van. Called IDEA, the van "will change the world," Waters told reporters and lawmakers gathered outside the Cannon House Office Building.
The Hearld Bulletin - Bright unveils ‘Idea’ hybrid-electric car
4/22/2009 - The Anderson Hearld Bulletin - The matching green neck ties of the Bright Automotive team sent a clear message: There is money to be made in clean energy. Anderson-based Bright unveiled its 100 miles-per-gallon vehicle, the “Idea,” on Tuesday in the nation’s capital, just in time for Earth Day.
Fast Company - 100 MPG Plug-In Hybrid Truck: It's Good Enough for the Post Office
4/22/2009 - Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedans, sports cars, and SUVs are fine for everyday consumer use, but what about businesses that require larger vans (i.e. the U.S. Post Office)? Bright Automotive's new "light-use truck" eschews the sexy aesthetic of cars like the Chevy Volt and Fisker Karma for a more utilitarian 180-cubic-foot space with a 2,000 pound payload.
Forbes - Forget those expensive electric sports cars. Go for the mailman.
4/21/2009 - An Indiana start-up figures the fastest way to get more plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road isn't by designing sexy battery-powered sports cars. It's by convincing fleet operators how much they'll save using electric delivery vans.
NEW YORK (AP) — It sounds like a bright idea.
4/21/2009 - Anderson, Ind.-based startup Bright Automotive on Tuesday unveiled the IDEA, a 100-mpg plug-in hybrid electric van that it is looking to sell to fleet customers such as businesses and government agencies.
WIRED - 100-MPG Delivery Van Is a Bright Idea
4/21/2009 - A startup led by a veteran of General Motors EV1 program plans to put thousands of plug-in hybrid delivery vans on the road by 2012 and says "America needs" the 100-mpg vehicles.
Detroit Free Press - A 100 m.p.g. truck? A Bright IDEA
4/21/2009 - More evidence that we are approaching an exciting new frontier in the automotive industry will be on display today on Capitol Hill. A largely unknown automaker — Bright Automotive of Anderson, Ind. — will be unveiling its IDEA, a 100 miles-per-gallon plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
Fox News - 'Bright' IDEA? (Video)
4/21/2009 - Hybrid gets 100 miles to the gallon?
New York Times - A Work Truck for Mr. Green Jeans
4/20/2009 - It seems that every week I’m contacted by several companies that have big plans to produce electric or hybrid vehicles. (While this post was being edited, I put my editor on hold and took another one of those calls.) But among these many announcements is an interesting concept from Bright Automotive of Anderson, Ind.
The Wall Street Journal - Bright Automotive Has Its IDEA
4/6/2009 - Bright Automotive, Inc. is naming its new plug-in hybrid vehicle, promising to achieve 100 millies per gallon, IDEA. The concept verison will make its public debut on April 21 in Washington DC.
Green Car Congress - New Indiana-Based Cleantech Research Partnership
4/2/2009 - A new Indiana-based cleantech partnership—The Energy Systems Network (ESN)—launched on Tuesday. The ESN brings together private firms, research institutions and public agencies focused on bringing new energy technologies to market through leveraging Indiana’s manufacturing sector and R&D capabilities. ESN will provide project development and coordination for joint ventures and cooperative partnerships between network members.
3/30/2009 - Austin Ligon, former CEO of CarMax, and John E. Waters, CEO of Bright Automotive, discuss the new auto frontier and what the future holds for the Detroit 3.
Cleantech Group - Stealthy Bright Automotive gives hints about electric car launch
3/10/2009 - Indiana-based startup plans to unveil gas-electric plug-in hybrid capable of reaching 400 miles on a tank of gas at Norway auto show in May. The one-year-old company has created buzz because of its origins in the consulting organization Rocky Mountain Institute and the track record of CEO John Waters, who invented the battery pack system for General Motors’ EV1 electric vehicle, which was discontinued after three years in 1999.
Mother Nature Network - The Future is Bright: A first look at a new plug-in hybrid
3/6/2009 - The Bright team is putting together a plug-in hybrid from scratch. Working on a shoestring, they plan to unveil a working prototype in May. Bright Automotive is “showing a bit of leg” with its new plug-in hybrid vehicle, which should be available in model year 2013.
CNET News - Bright Automotive to enter electric-car derby
2/23/2009 - Start-up Bright Automotive is designing a line of plug-in electric vehicles that get a 100 miles per gallon by combining a bag full of fuel-efficiency tricks with an electric motor.
Car Companies "Rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic?"
2/19/2009 - After a panel discussion, Nesbitt, along with representatives of Toyota and hybrid startup Bright Automotive, were asked a very rude question. "Are you guys rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?"
Moving from car 2.0 to car 10.0
2/19/2009 - John E. Waters, the President & CEO of Bright Automotive, was a welcome flash of light and inspiration.
1/24/2009 - There have been a number of relatively unknown manufacturers that have burst on to the scene in recent years with various green car concepts - from Tesla to BYD to the Lightning Car Company. Now you can add another name to that list - Bright Automotive.
Bright Automotive to unveil plug-in hybrid in spring
1/22/2009 - Bright Automotive, which is a spin-off of think-tank Rocky Mountain Institute, will unveil its 100-mile-per-gallon car in May at the 24th Electric Vehicle Symposium in Stavanger, Norway, with a likely introduction to the U.S. market earlier than that.
Think Tank's Plug-In Car: Aerodynamics Are Key
1/21/2009 - Bright Automotive says it soon will release an electric car with a 100 mile per gallon plus plug-in – and the company says it will keep the car economically priced.
1/16/2009 - John E. Waters, CEO of Bright Automotive joins Tesla Motors' Elon Musk on CNBC to speak about the role of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in the future of the automotive industry.
Stimulus plan would help US autos, airlines, Amtrak
1/15/2009 - Smaller U.S.-based companies are also vying for business in the electric vehicle market that is expected to grow quickly, including start-up Tesla Motors Inc and Bright Automotive.
MOVE's Brylawski joins Bright Automotive
1/9/2009 - Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Bright Automotive today announced that Michael Brylawski will leave his position as Vice President of Rocky Mountain Institute's MOVE transport practice and join RMI spin-off, Bright Automotive, as VP of Corporate Strategy. Brylawski will continue to serve RMI as a Senior Fellow and continue to collaborate as a thought leader on RMI's mobility programs.
Bayh Calls on Congress to Fund $1.6 Billion Technology Investments
12/19/2008 - At a news conference today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Bayh was joined by five representatives of leading Indiana companies on the cutting-edge of automotive innovation: EnerDel, Indy Power Systems, Altairnano, Remy International, and Bright Automotive.
12/8/2008 - Bright Automotive tells Congress that 'Auto Bailout' funds must also be used to enable innovation by entrepreneurial companies launched from research efforts at Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Institute.