Bright idea needs money

Bright Automotive wants to green the delivery truck and corporate vehicle fleets of America. If only they can get some money. I recently blogged about Bright's hope to begin production in 2012, both electric cars and delivery vans. They've teamed with a solar company to turn parking lots into solar-powered recharging areas for Bright's electric vehicles. But Bright is still waiting for the money. No word from the Department of Energy. Not enough action from the private sector, so the company now faces furhter delays on development and ultimate production of the Bright Idea.

Bright's seeking $450-mil from DOE, plus two smallers asks of $35-mil total for ancillary parts development. Much the investment would go to Indiana where Bright is headquartered, and long a center of auto parts and auto-making. INDIANA'S AUTO HISTORY Studebaker wasz perhaps the most successful Indiana automaker. Stutz-Bearcat. The luxurious Dusenberg, perhaps the finest American car ever made. I still want one. Cord. Auburn. Marmon. Names of historic Indiana-made autos. And the all electric Milburn. Made back before gasoline took over American car tech. Read about some of Indiana's car legacy here.