TRUCKMAKERS' NEWS * Germany - Volkswagen's Bulli concept revives memories of the Kombi

An urban electric all-purpose vehicle

(Picture: The Volkswagen Bulli Concept from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show)

Wolfsburg,Germany -Gizmag, by Mike Hanlon -March 2, 2011: -- Volkswagen is reprising the iconic Microbus/Kombi wagon surfaced in Geneva. The new 'Bulli' concept offers a flexible layout, seating for six, a 40 kWh lithium-ion battery, an 85 kW electric motor with 260 Nm torque,140 km/h (87 mph) top speed and a range of 300 km (186 miles). There's still not enough range just yet for a serious escape vehicle – if there's no electricity available where you're going, you're on a 90 mile leash – but suitable as an urban electric all-purpose vehicle...  The all-new 'Bulli' concept is not in effect all-new...  The electric Bulli will probably not be the first of this shape available, as VW pointed out that both petrol and diesel direct injection engines can be accommodated by the front-wheel-drive design...

Like many vehicles in Geneva, the tablet or iPad has been used in the center console as a multifunctional touchscreen interface and controller. In the Bulli, it acts as an interface for Internet-based applications, the media and entertainment functionality of the vehicles' telephone and navigation...

* UK - Electric van maker Modec runs out of juice

(Picture: A Modec-2010-bg3)

Coventry,UK -VansA2Z, by Neil McIntee -4 March 2011: -- Set up in 2004, Coventry-based electric light commercial vehicle manufacturer Modec has gone into administration following poor sales and growing debts. Half of the workforce has been made redundant... Modec secured a £23m grant from the US government in 2009 to build electric vans for the North American market in conjunction with US truck manufacturer Navistar. Founder Lord Borwick said the deal had not produced as many orders as he expected and only 400 vehicles had been made since its launch in 2007... Prior to going into administration it was hoped that stakeholder and partner Navistar would bail-out the UK company. It may still be in the frame, but perhaps a more likely scenario is that Chinese companies will be eyeing-up the hi-tech zero carbon LCV technology with the intention of shipping production overseas...

* UK - Liberty Electric Cars set to free Modec commercial vehicles failure

Coventry,UK -Transport Engineer -9 March 2011: -- Following news that Coventry-based electric commercial vehicle maker Modec has entered administration, making half its workforce redundant, Liberty Electric Cars CEO Barry Shrier is attempting a rescue... Modec was founded by Lord Jamie Borwick in 2004 and is widely regarded as among leaders in the electric commercial vehicle market, and one of the most promising low-carbon business opportunities for the West Midlands... However, when takeover talks with American partner Navistar failed, the company had to call in the administrators...