Wenatchee World. The Port of Chelan County, Washington (in north central Washington) is seeking $15 million in federal economic stimulus money to modify 500 standard Toyota Prius hybrids to plug-in hybrids.
Ron Johnston-Rodriguez, the port’s director of economic development, said the port is working with the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Lab and Pacific Northwest National Lab in Tri-Cities to develop the project. It would include research on devices that would limit the time plugged-in cars draw electricity to only as long as it takes the battery to charge completely.
The vehicles would primarily come from government agencies from the Northwest, Johnston-Rodriguez said. Port officials hope the effort will entice a company that modifies standard hybrids to locate here. Last year, the port modified 14 Prius hybrids in a pilot project.
Tags: hybrid, bus charter, Hybrid cars, group travel Uk