Electric cars: A nice jolt for Oregon

[depakid]

Nissan's new electric car, the Leaf.
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Who would have guessed, even just a year ago, that tens of millions of dollars for cutting-edge research and development for the latest in battery technology for electric cars would go to ventures in Oregon towns such as Lebanon and Albany? The recent announcement that Nissan will test its new plug-in cars in Portland and that Oregon will get a chunk of federal grants for the development of electric cars is a credit to Gov. Ted Kulongoski and others who pressed to make Oregon an unlikely center of alternative energy and technology.

It's true that the lion's share of the federal money for electric car development will go to the traditional Midwestern auto-making states. But it is a coup for Oregon to nab tens of millions of dollars for two Willamette Valley companies that will work to develop lighter, longer-lasting and faster-charging batteries, and for a Coburg firm that will install electric units at truckstops to reduce idling of large semis.

It's also very promising that Oregon will be one of Nissan North America's sites, along with Washington, California, Arizona and Tennessee, selected to test 5,000 electric cars and more than 12,000 charging stations. The Nissan electric car, named the Leaf, is a five-passenger hatchback that uses a lithium ion battery.

The first Leafs are expected to arrive in Oregon next fall. If the car is successful, and Oregonians should do everything they can to help make that happen, this state will be in the forefront of an electric-car revolution.

More: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/08/electric_cars_a_nice_jolt_for.html

[and-justice-for-all]

1. This car is going to sell like mad...nt

[krispos42]

2. This will make Thom Hartmann very happy

He raves about the Danish plan for all-electric cars.

[morningglory]

3. Is it going to cost $50,000.00 ? nt

[wtmusic]

4. Under $30K, reportedly. nt

[IDemo]

5. There is also a $7,500 tax credit

which may result in the sticker price being padded, or not.

[roguevalley]

6. Ah, Oregon. Always ten steps ahead. I'm going to Anchorage tomorrow

to get a stim car and trade in my old darling for something that works all the time. WIsh I had this one.