BMW, ZEV credits, Citroën, Formula E, Niu, Garia, VW.

BMW may plan new PHEV: According to the Australian website Motoring, the next BMW X3 model expected for 2016 will also become available as a plug-in hybrid variant with an all-electric range of 50 kilometres. It could feature a 67 kW electric motor and a turbocharged four-cylinder combustion engine, giving it a combined output of around 245 kW.
motoring.com.au

All need to electrify: The California Air Resources Board announced that even small carmakers will have to comply with clean-car rules, denying the request of Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Volvo to be exempt from the rules. The decision will allow the five smaller automakers, all of which have less than 40 billion dollars in annual global revenue, to have the option of selling plug-in hybrids to earn credits towards compliance, rather than being forced to sell pure EVs.
autonews.com, hybridcars.com

Citroën Formula E update: Rumours that the French carmaker will take part in the second Formula E season are becoming more concrete. Motorsport.com has learned that a Citroën Formula E test took place earlier this month close to Paris. The carmaker is said to join Richard Branson’s Virgin racing team next year. The official announcement is expected during the ePrix finale in London at the end of June.
motorsport.com

New scooter from China: Li Yinan, former chief technology officer of China’s largest internet search company Baidu, and his new company Niu introduced an electric scooter called “N1 smart e-scooter” to the Chinese market. The Vespa-like two-wheeler features a Bosch motor and weighs only 10 kilos. It could also become available in Europe at a later date.
qz.com

From furniture to EVs: Danish newspaper Finans reports that Lars Larsen, owner of the internationally operating Danish retail chain Jysk, which is selling household goods, plans to produce electric utility vehicles for municipalities, public offices, parks and camping sites and to sell the EVs worldwide. Apparently the planning stage is all wrapped up and first deals have already been signed.
finans.dk (in Danish) via emobilitaetonline.de (in German)

Driving the Beetle Dune Hybrid concept: John Voelker from Green Car Concepts took the bug for a spin and found the ride rather bumpy, feeling the weight of the hybrid drivetrain also used in the Jetta. He believes the concept is really a way for VW to say “Look, we can put our hybrid powertrain in a bunch of different vehicles–including this one.”
greencarreports.com