Recharge Wrap-up: US importing 800M gallons of biodiesel, Toyota Mirai wins e-Rallye Monte-Carlo

A Toyota Mirai won the 2016 e-Rally Monte-Carlo. Marking the first time a hydrogen-powered car participated in such an event, drivers Artur Prusak and Thierry Benchetrit finished first overall in the four-day competition. Two other Mirais took part in the race, with one co-driven by Monaco Mayor Georges Marsan taking sixth place. "The success of this test is a major step towards the roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell cars," says Marsan. Renault Zoes took second and third place in the overall event. Read more from Toyota, or from the Automobile Club de Monaco.

The US on track to import more than 800 million gallons of biodiesel this year. According to National Biodiesel Board senior advisor Larry Schafer, 2016 is set to break last year's record of about 670 million gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel by a hefty margin. That means $800 million in blender tax credits going to foreign companies. For this reason, the US biodiesel industry would like to see that shifted to a domestic production credit. Schafer also says the US is expected to consume about 2.5 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel in 2016. Read more from Biodiesel Magazine.

China has given CH-Auto Technology permission to build 50,000 EVs per year. With a desire to put cleaner vehicles on its road, China's new licensing system allows non-automakers like automotive design contractor CH-Auto to build cars. CH-Auto Technology owns Qiantu, which will build the EVs, the first of which being a roadster called the K50. The K50 is expected to begin production in 2017 with a price tag of $105,000. Qiantu plans to sell the car in the US. Read more at Hybrid Cars.