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Recharge Wrap-up: Digital Giant video lights up Tesla Model S, GM uses wind power in Mexico

General Motors will use a 34-megawatt wind farm to power its facilities in Mexico. Upon completion of the wind farm's construction, GM will be sourcing 12 percent of the energy for all of its North American operations from renewable sources. Currently, GM uses 104 megawatts of renewable energy, with goal of 120 megawatts by 2020, and the new wind farm deal helps the automotive group achieve its goal several years early. Most of the energy from the wind project will power GM's Toluca Complex. "Once online, we'll evaluate the project to better understand how we can expand the use of wind power," says GM's renewable energy manager, Rob Threlkeld. Read more from GM. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) supports readoption of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, but sees room for improvement. The advanced biofuel trade organization said it is "generally supportive" of the law, but feels that some of the requirements get in the way of producers doing their job. "BIO and its members are concerned that the intensified reporting requirements under the readoption plan could be particularly burdensome in time and cost to small and new low-carbon fuel producers," says BIO's Brent Erickson. "CARB should make every effort to ensure that the new reporting (and other) requirements under the plan do not inadvertently discourage small producers or innovation." Read more in the press release below. The Tesla Model S is the subject of a new video from Digital Giant. Called "Lightdrive," the video uses the newest video technology to show off what is arguably the world's favorite EV. The filmmakers "harnessed the freedoms gifted by the latest state of the art cameras, camera cars, drones and bespoke technologies to create a piece that we hope appeals to the sci-fi junky and car enthusiast alike." Digital Giant calls the Model S the "obvious choice" for making such a video. "Tesla is not only a brand we identify with on all levels, it is a case of automotive fiction meeting science fact, and to drive one is to understand that the game has changed." See the video above and read more at Gas2. BIO Urges California to Readopt the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, With Changes BIO expresses concerns on reporting requirements and compliance curve Washington, D.C. (Feb.

Missouri next state to attempt Tesla direct-sales ban

When Tesla Motors feels like its under attack, it is not afraid to speak out. After state lawmakers in New Jersey voted to close the electric vehicle company's stores there, the company said it was an "affront to the very concept of a free market" and CEO Elon Musk compared the situation to mafia tactics. In Ohio, when the company learned about a fast-moving challenge, it quickly asked its fans and owners for help. That same move is now taking place in Missouri, where Tesla said a "sneak attack" is happening that will "thwart due process and hurt consumer freedom in Missouri." Tesla currently has one store in Missouri, in St. Louis (and wants to open another), but new language inserted into a bill that had previously been focused on off-road vehicles "would bar Tesla from selling its vehicles direct to consumers in the state," the automaker says. That doesn't seem like an exaggeration, since the bill explicitly states: In enacting subsection 3 of this section, it is the express intent of the legislature to prevent any manufacturer of new motor vehicles from circumventing the public policy as stated in section 407.811, by engaging in methods of retailing new motor vehicles which are designed to avoid the provisions of sections 407.810 to 407.835. Tesla says the bill's new language passed the Senate last night, "after zero public consultation and could soon move to the House floor for a final vote, essentially without debate." Tesla wants to get a debate started, so it makes its point in bold terms. "To be clear: this is worse than a mere case of dealers trying to protect an existing monopoly – this is a case of dealers trying to create a monopoly," the company said. Recently, some officials at the FTC said they thought anti-direct sales rules were "protectionist," which at least hints that a possible change is coming. You can read Tesla's call to action for Missouri below. We have just become aware of a last-minute attempt by the auto dealers lobby, via pressure on legislators, to use a procedure that would bar Tesla from selling its vehicles direct to consumers in the state. This extraordinary maneuver amounts to a sneak attack to thwart due process and hurt consumer freedom in Missouri. In the last week before Missouri's legislature ends its current session, dealers proposed new language in an existing bill that would force Missouri consumers to purchase new vehicles only through middleman franchised dealers.

Tesla will 'probably' raise Model S price in Europe

The price for the Tesla Model S around Europe started higher than the US price but then went down. On a recent conference call with investors last week, CEO Elon Musk said that the future price will be going up. Probably. The hike is unlikely to be major, and Musk said that it's all part of the occasional purchase price adjustments that the company needs to make: We're probably going to have to adjust the price of our car in euros upwards because there has been a 7 percent change in the exchange rates of the euro versus the dollar. So we'll periodically have to make pricing adjustments if the exchange rate band gets too wide. I would certainly encourage anyone in Europe to purchase their car soon because we probably will have to make an adjustment there. Some example Model S starting prices in Europe are 66,640 euros ($82,712) in Belgium, 65,740 ($81,595) in Germany and 59,440 euros ($73,776) in France. For now, anyway. At the beginning of 2014, a dollar got you 72 euro cents. Today, it gets you 80. That might not be a big difference when you're buying brews for your new best friends at the hostel, but as Deepak Ahuja, Tesla Motors' Chief Financial Officer, told investors that, "as the euro weakens, the effect on our revenue is immediate." You can read a full transcript of the call here and listen here.