Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc. (FPWM)

[dfh]

Austin hopes to lead on applying plug-in car technology
3/31/2007 2:03 PM
By: Associated Press

AUSTIN -- Austin hopes to become the first U.S. city to put the emerging technology of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to use.

The city's utility, Austin Energy, has big plans for plug-in vehicles beyond just cutting down on gas consumption.

The city hopes the cars can eventually supplement Austin's electricity supply during peak hours.

Austin-based Plug-In Partners is a national coalition of governments, businesses and nonprofit groups. It's seeking to show automakers there's a market for the vehicles.

A few automakers are planning to roll out on a wide scale some version of a plug-in in the next several years with improved technology -- like the battery.

Mayor Will Wynn says mass production of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is widely considered the technology to have the biggest impact on oil dependence, oil price and emissions.