Electronics retailer Best Buy has signed on as a sponsor for the electric motorcycle maker Brammo’s racing team. In addition to giving the EV builder support for the upcoming zero-emission grand prix—the TTxGP on the Isle of Man—Best Buy may offer a high-profile retail outlet for the Brammo Enertia street bike.

So far, Best Buy has not only invested in Brammo but has also reportedly, “Committed to testing the bike in stores.”  The first retail Enertia’s will likely show up in West Coast stores first, priced at or around $12,000.

Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher has also said that two new EV bike models are to be announced sometime within the next six months. One to slot in below the Enertia in terms of price, and another model that’s more closely related to the race bike seen here.

+ Wired Autopia: Best Buy Takes a Flyer on Brammo Electric Cycles

The hype around the Chevrolet Volt is growing faster and faster now that the car is closer to its production debut. And while official pricing is still far from being released, former GM car czar "Maximum" Bob Lutz revealed that the Volt's price tag will sit "around $40,000." This detail was leaked during Lutz's appearance on the David Letterman show recently.

General Motors was originally hoping for the Volt to come in below the $30,000 mark, but Lutz says that consumers can expect to pay around $32,500 when the car actually hits showrooms, thanks to a $7500 federal rebate for the purchase of advanced, plug-in vehicles. No official details have been released as to when the Volt will hit showrooms, Lutz says that we can expect to see a few examples dropping near the end of 2010, with full production to ramp up in 2011.

Would you pay $32,500 (or more) for a Chevy Volt? Let us know what you think, in comments.

+ Motor Authority: Lutz gives $32,500 ballpark price for Volt

Earlier this week, editorial director Tom Martin and WR contributor Rex Roy drove a brand new Tesla Roadster through the winding roads of California, bringing a Lotus Elise SC along for fun (more on that later).

We've created yet another Ask It forum thread about the Tesla, so feel free to drop us a line with any questions that you may have about the electric roadster.

+ NextAutos Forums: Ask It: 2009 Tesla Roadster

After a quick (and early) peak at the car yesterday, Tesla has gone and officially revealed the newest member of its two-car line up, the Model S Sedan. 

The Model S has some pretty impressive numbers going for it, with a 300-mile all-electric range, 45 minute quick charging of its batteries, a 130 mile per hour top speed (limited electronically) and a 0 to 60 sprint of “under six seconds.” Perhaps most impressive though, is the projected sticker price of $49,900-that's after taking into account the $7500 federal tax credit.

With its powertrain mounted in the floor of the vehicle, the Model S promises to be one of the most uniquely versatile sedans on the market. There'll be seating for seven (two rear-facing jump seats for kids only in the back), along with loads of storage space thanks to a hatchback configuration, fold-flat seats, and trunk space in front and rear.

It's all very exciting, without at doubt, but don't expect to have a Model S sitting in your driveway anytime soon. Tesla's anticipated start of production date isn't until late in 2011. Click through the gallery above for more images of the Model S or read more about the car in the official press release below.

Tesla’s plan to reveal its new Model S sedan today at Noon PST has been slightly altered, as technophile darling Kevin Rose—founder of Digg.com—decided to upload some stock images of the Tesla to his personal Flickr page. Just a few hours early.

Rose’s daring is our gain, as it gives us our first unobstructed view of the handsome EV sedan. The Model S bears more than a passing resemblance to Jaguar’s swooping XF—which is no bad thing in our book. The low-slung sedan also appears to have a completely glass roof to complement its elegant sheet metal.

The lone interior shot may only reveal a partially completed cockpit area, but it does highlight a huge and unmistakable center stack touch screen display. A configurable control system is likely then, nestled inside of what seems to be a very nicely conceived, leather bound interior.

All in, it’s a lot of next generation appeal for a sedan that’s expected to retail for $57,400. Anticipate more detail as we have it.

+ AutoblogGreen: Leak! Tesla Model S pics surface on web ahead of today's debut

Up until this point, Koenigsegg has solely been known for producing high-horsepower supercars with Bugatti Veyron-like top speeds. That all changed on the Geneva Show floor, though, when Christian von Koenigsegg unveiled his latest creation, the Quant, which runs only on electric power.

Developed in part by NLV Solar AG, the Quant uses individual electric motors that power each rear wheel, and additional energy comes from solar panels which have been slotted into the hood and roof. These batteries won't really be used for any sort of powertrain charging, but will provide enough juice to power interior electronics, etc. This four-passenger coupe is expected to produce an astonishing 512 horsepower and 527 pound-feet of torque -- impressive from just two electric motors.

So, it looks like the future of Koenigsegg might not just be about go-fast sports cars, after all. But the question is, if an EV were to come from the Koenigsegg folks, would it sell in the same sort of volumes as their famed CCX-series of supercars?

Job one for engineering firm Magna Steyr is to realize and meet the needs of different OEMs and create products that can be utilized in a variety of different configurations for future vehicle creations. At the Geneva Motor Show, Magna Steyr unveiled their latest Mila EV concept, a five-door small car, and we're told that every part of this car's design and engineering has been entirely focused around alternative, forward-thinking drive technology.

The Mila EV is powered by an electric motor which produces 67 horsepower from its Magna Steyr-sourced lithium-ion battery. After charging for only 2.5 hours, we're told that this car can travel up to 150 kilometers (93 miles). Additionally, solar cells are integrated into the EV's glass roof, providing extra energy generation for interior features (audio, HVAC, etc.). More significantly, the Mila EV does away with side mirrors, in favor or sleeker camera housings with corresponding displays inside the car.

We'll be interested to see if Magna Steyr can get any OEMs on board with their Mila EV concept, as it could prove to be a very useful product for manufacturers looking to electrify their small car offerings. Click through the post to read Magna's official words, and click the images above for a few images of the Mila EV.

The excitement behind the impending launch of the Chevrolet Volt won’t have to be limited to North America anymore—it’ll just have to be put off for one year. General Motors has shown off the European-flavored Volt, a restyled Opel version known as the Ampera.

The Euro versions (there will also be a right-hand-drive Vauxhall Ampera for Blighty) have all the same underpinnings as the revolutionary Chevy version, though some tweaks will have to be made to make the car compliant with Euro power grids. Have a closer look at the Ampera in our gallery above or scroll down to read the official press release. 

At the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, Ford announced its plans to slowly roll out a range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), one of which would include some sort of commercial vehicle. Today, the Blue Oval folks have issued an official press release announcing that the Transit Connect will be available as a BEV in the second half of 2010. Ford will be working with Smith Electric Vehicles on all of the upcoming BEVs, a company that has been around since 1920.

The Transit Connect BEV will have an electric range of up to 100 miles. Since most Connects will be owned and operated by small businesses, many federal and regional programs will be offering incentives for companies who choose to electrify all their fleet of commercial vehicles.

This will be the first example of Ford's battery vehicle program. A small car (think: Focus) will be rolled out in 2011, next-generation hybrids will appear in 2012, and plug-in hybrids will also be available in 2012. Click through the post to read Ford's official press release.

Last month, Norweigan automaker Think filed for bankruptcy after not being able to raise the nearly $100 million that it needed to finance its growth. During the year 2008, Think sold around 350 examples of its two-seat plug-in city car, and with a higher global demand for more efficient vehicles, the automaker planned to boost production to 10,000 units in 2009.

In speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Think chief executive said, "It doesn't seem right that the traditional auto companies are getting massive public money to stave off their decline, while newcomers in the electric car space are being starved of capital."

Right now, however, Think is seeking strategic partnerships in order to secure more funding. In early January, the automaker received $5.7 million in financing from a group of lenders, including Ener1 Group, Inc. -- the company that makes the lithium-ion batteries which power the Th!nk cars. In the meantime, this money will aid in Think's plan to restructure their business model over the next few years. The long-term plan is to raise equity capital and eventually commence large-volume production.

+ Wall Street Journal: Faded Green: A Carmaker's Woes