Google.org supporting ultra fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid development
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Google.org, the philanthropic organization set up by the Google founders, was given seed money of about $1 billion with the mandate to tackle poverty, disease and global warming. The organization is unlike most charities, since it is a for-profit entity. This allows Google.org to form partnerships with venture capitalists and fund start-up companies. It also means the organization will pay taxes, something most charities are exempt from. Since one of its goals is to tackle global warming, Google.org plans to develop an ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid car that runs on ethanol, electricity and gasoline, in collaboration with hybrid-engine scientists and automakers. They also plan for the purchase of a small fleet of cars with plans to convert them to achieve 100 miles per gallon or better mileage. Dr. Larry Brilliant, the executive director of Google.org, declined to comment on the car project specifically.
[Source: The New York Times, via KickingTires]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1985 Gripen 4:40PM (9/15/2006)
Sorry Google, SAAB beat you to it:
SAAB introduced the SAAB 9-3 BioPower Hybrid Convertible Concept at the 2006 Stockholm International Auto Show. It is an ethanol-powered plug-in hybrid.
However, the fact that it is a plug-in was inexplicably covered-up by parent company General Motors at the last minute. So though the car is actually a plug-in, it is not advertised. See this link for more details:
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/saab_hybrid/
Scroll down the page for details on both the car itself and GM's cover-up. The top of the page has the most recent blog entries, so you may want to start at the bottom and work your way up.
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