Pike Research says annual sales of plug-in vehicles in U.S. will hit 358,959 by 2017

Pike Research has put out an estimate saying that annual sales of plug-in vehicles in the United States will hit 358,959 by 2017. And they’re not all going to the usual suspects. Mostly, sure, but not all.

Since there is no national Level 2 (or faster) charging infrastructure the way there is a gasoline network, Pike compiled its data by geographic region and even broke down the numbers one city at a time. As Pike states:

As government officials and utility managers plan for the arrival of grid-connected vehicles, they need to understand where those vehicles are going to be located and what the impact could be.

Seems logical to us. So, where will all the plug-ins call home? Well, according to Pike, New York and California will lead the way at the state level. Looking at individual cities, Pike says New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Chicago will be the U.S.’ top five plug-in loving metropolitan areas. No big surprises there, but here’s a bit of a shocker: relative to population, Raleigh, NC will lead the nation in registered plug-ins by 2017.

Celebrating its 17th Anniversary, ZAP Jonway Positions Itself for Future

SANTA ROSA, California (September 23, 2011) – Today electric vehicle pioneer ZAP Jonway (OTC BB: ZAAP) celebrates its 17th Anniversary in the industry. ZAP’s majority acquisition of Chinese automobile manufacturer Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd. earlier this year (which resulted in the corporation formally doing business as ZAP Jonway), the additions of several new executives, and other structural changes have the company freshly focused in a new direction and prepared for future growth.

Engineering & High-Quality, Volume Manufacturing

The acquisition of Zhejiang Jonway Automobile in January was the first in a series of major positive structural changes for ZAP Jonway, including new management, new vehicles, new technologies, streamlining US operations, and a new overall direction.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with all the beneficial changes we’ve made in the last nine months,” says Alex Wang, Co-CEO of ZAP Jonway. “Now that Jonway and ZAP are operating as one entity, we can leverage the expertise of our Californian sales, marketing and engineering teams, and combine it with the high-quality, volume manufacturing of our China manufacturing facility, making us uniquely poised to become the market leader in practical commercial and consumer electric vehicles.”

ZAP Jonway Secures Up to US$16.33 Million in Bank Lines, Outlines Expansion Strategy

SANTA ROSA, California (September 15, 2011) – Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd. (“Jonway Automobile”), a majority-owned subsidiary of ZAP Jonway (OTC BB: ZAAP), a growing manufacturer of electric vehicles, announced today that it is approved for two credit facilities for a total of $16.33 million in available credit. These credit facilities will be used to support the company’s expansion plans, with emphasis on its electric vehicle production line facilities in China. The credit will also help advance new electric vehicle initiatives, launch new strategic global sales and marketing operations, bolster infrastructure, and finance working capital.

Jonway Automobile, a Sanmen, China based manufacturer of the 3 and 5-door A380 SUV, entered into a Credit Granting Agreement with the Taizhou Branch of China Merchants Bank for a revolving credit line in the aggregate amount of RMB21 million (US$3.28 million) from a total of RMB40 million (US$6.25 million) that is available through China Merchants Bank. Additionally, Jonway Automobile was also approved for a credit line in the aggregate amount of RMB64.5 million (US$10.08 million) from the Taizhou Branch of Everbright Bank of China. Both credit facilities when drawn down will be secured by lands owned by Jonway Automobile and guaranteed by Jonway Group, headquartered in Taizhou. ZAP Jonway is a supplier of all-electric vehicles (EVs) to the military, government and corporations and an early pioneer of electric motorcycles, scooters and ATVs.