San Francisco Looks to Rule the Electric Car World
The San Francisco Bay Area has the reputation as one of the most environmentally active parts and green of the country. As the economic downturn sweeps through the tech sector the Bay area is looking to clean technology for a new source of jobs, income and prestige.
"I'm a guy driving a hybrid, and I don't feel particularly good about it," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told a news conference, adding that electric cars would be a "game-changer" for cutting carbon emissions which cause global warming.
Renault and Nissan Motors recently signed on with other Better Place projects. Better Place is developing networks in Denmark, Israel, and Australia. Better Place Chief Executive Shai Agassi in an interview said the network to support the cars with charging stations would cost about $1 billion with a quarter of that needed for a test phase in 2010-2011. Cities in the San Francisco region said they would offer incentives and standardize infrastructure with Better Place to offer electric cars as a service at prices similar or below standard cars.
"We've got a year and a half to bring the capital in," he said, acknowledging the tough economic environment and arguing that the network would be a good investment.
He told reporters that he hoped the US "Big Three" automakers, GM, Ford and Chrysler, would join the plan as it expands.
As soon as the new Ford Fusion hybrid hits the roads this spring it will quickly claim a spot as one of the most efficient hybrids on the market. Expectations are of 40+ mpg for the Ford Fusion hybrid.
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Solar Electric Vehicles and solar pioneer Greg Johanson have developed a solar kit for the Toyota Prius that increases range and and fuel econemy far and above the norm for the hybrid.
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Ford Motors plans to roll out a pair of brand new gas-electric hybrids early in 2009 based on a redesigned 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize sedans.
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Ford Motors today outlined plans to introduce electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids within three years, ramping up production and development greatly to meet what is expected to be warm market demand.
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Chinese car company Changan and Canadian company Electrovaya are partnering to bring electric cars to Canada later this year.
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