100mpg Plug-in hybrid to debut in Washington DC

WHAT: Bicameral, bipartisan press conference on energy security +
plug in hybrid vehicle test drives by Senators and Representatives.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 17, 11:45 - 12:15 followed by individual media
test drives upon request.
NOTE: The press conference will take place immediately following the
"Plug In Hybrid" hearing of the Energy Subcommittee of the House
Committee on Science.
WHERE: New Jersey Avenue (Between C and D streets) behind the Cannon
House Office Building)

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO AND/OR TO SCHEDULE AN INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING/TEST DRIVE:
Anne Korin, anne@..., 866.713.7527

The Set America Free Coalition, the California Cars Initiative
(CalCars) and the Hybrid Consortium are proud to introduce the first
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) to ever appear in the
Nation's capital. While CEO's of Detroit's Big Three will be meeting
Congressional leaders to discuss the auto industry's future, members
of Congress and other notables will be test driving the car on Capitol Hill.

The event will include demonstrations and test drives of a plug-in
hybrid vehicle based on the Toyota Prius hybrid. The demo vehicles
add larger batteries and a 30 mile electric driving range in addition
to the gasoline range. They can be recharged by plugging in to the
electric power grid. They illustrate the benefit of adding a second
fuel source to a gasoline car: cheaper, cleaner, domestic
electricity, and can help significantly reduce dependence on oil
since only 2% of U.S. electricity is generated from oil.

These vehicle show that plug-in hybrids are a solution that
automakers could use today -- using existing technology, currently
available components, and no new infrastructure.

"Plug ins are clearly a near term solution that fits the American way
of life," said Anne Korin, chair of Set America Free. "We hope that
Detroit will embrace the technology and commercialize it. Less than
2% of U.S. electricity is generated from oil, so using electricity as
a transportation fuel would greatly reduce dependence on imported
petroleum, thus contributing to our national security."

CalCars.org founder Felix Kramer said, "Washingtonians who see and
drive CalCars' plug-in hybrid for the first time this week will know
in a real way what's possible now. The auto-makers, legislators, the
Energy Department and the President need to think about how we can
accelerate development and begin mass production of plug-in hybrids."
####
The Set America Free Coalition brings together prominent individuals
and non-profit organizations concerned about the security and
economic implications of America's growing dependence on foreign oil.
The coalition promotes a blueprint for energy security that spells
out practical ways real progress toward energy security can be made
over the next several years. Pathbreaking bipartisan oil savings
legislation based on the Set America Free Coalition's energy security
blueprint was recently introduced in the House and Senate (House
bill: HR. 4409 -Fuel Choices for American Security; Senate bill: S.
2025 - Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security)
http://www.setamericafree.org

CalCars.org is a Palo Alto-based nonprofit group of entrepreneurs,
engineers, environmentalists and consumers promoting high-
efficiency, low-emission cars and harnessing buyer demand to help
commercialize plug-in hybrids. Calcars was the first to convert a
hybrid into a PHEV. http://www.calcars.org