A plug-in electric-vehicle demonstration program in the Indianapolis area could begin as early as this spring, an official for clean-energy consortium Energy Systems Network said Thursday morning.
Paul Mitchell, CEO of ESN, said officials are working to use plug-in hybrids made by several manufacturers, including Norwegian car maker Think Global, which plans to manufacture U.S. models in the northern Indiana city of Elkhart.
Another is the Leaf, Nissan’s first electric-only vehicle, and an electric version of the diminutive Smart car.
“Indianapolis will be the first launch market for all of North America for them,” Mitchell said of Smart.
Mitchell spoke about the demonstration program following his participation in a Going Green panel discussion hosted by IBJ at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown hotel. (See video below.)
About 50 to 100 plug-in vehicles likely will be placed into city, state government and some corporate fleets.
The public would also be given the opportunity to drive the vehicles at various events. ESN will put up a Web site where customers can learn more about the vehicles prior to their sale.
Indianapolis would be among the first U.S. cities to demonstrate the new technology prior to auto manufacturers bringing the cars to market as early as next year.
Read more at
Read more at
source: lbj.com
