Below is an accumulation of some of the most significant and entertaining PHEV news stories of the past few weeks.

But before that, here's early news that shows how far the PHEV campaign has come and how broad the interest is in PHEVs. Last June, when Google.org's RechargeIT announced its support for CalCars and others (see CalCars-News), it funded an effort at the Brookings Institute led by David Sandalow, author of "Freedom From Oil." The result is a very important conference in Washington in June -- here's a preview; we'll have a fuller announcement in the future both by email and at CalCars-Events (where you can also find links to other events, including the preliminary program for "Plug-In 2008 Conference & Exposition: A Short Drive to Tomorrow July 22-24 in San Jose).

SAVE THE DATES: June 11/12 in Washington DC Plug-In Electric Vehicles 2008: What Role for Washington? Sponsored by the Brookings Institution and Google.org

Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 12:00 pm - 5:30 pm, banquet dinner 7:00pm-9:00pm Thursday, June 12, 2008, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Hyatt Regency Capital Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave, NW, Washington, DC

On June 11 and 12, the Brookings Institution and Google.org will host a conference on electric vehicles, their potential to reduce oil dependence and the role of federal policy in promoting them. Confirmed panelists include:

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) • Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) • Troy Clarke, President, GM North America • Felix Kramer, Founder, CalCars • Tom Kuhn, President, Edison Electric Institute • James Rogers, CEO, Duke Energy • Chelsea Sexton, Executive Director, Plug-In America • Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Energy and Environment Correspondent, Economist • Jim Woolsey, Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton

$5 MILLION RFP FOR PHEVS IN MICHIGAN
Michigan Public Service Commission Issues Request for Proposal for Michigan Energy Efficiency Technology Grants
http://www.michigan.gov/­mpsc Mar 21, 2008
Case No. U-13129 ... $5 million for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) pilot program related to integration of PHEVs into the electricity grid; the deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. on Friday, April 4.

FORBES.COM: PHEV BATTERY SURVEY
Includes excellent summary chart on key players, partners with automakers
Jump Start by Joann Muller and Andy Stone 04.07.08
http://www.forbes.com/­forbes/­2008/­0407/­068.html

ABC NEWS STORY QUOTES GIOIA/FRENETTE AT FORD
Plug-In Hybrid Cars Touted as 'Game-Changing Technology'
ABC News Test-Drives a Plug-In Ford Prototype
By NED POTTER
Dearborn, Mich., March 20, 2008
http://www.abcnews.go.com/­Technology/­story?id=4490108&page=1
Ford's Greg Frenette, chief engineer for advanced hybrids at Ford, says of the Ford Escape PHEV prototype, "I think it's conceivable within the next five years that we could put a vehicle like this into our showrooms."

UPDATE ON A123SYSTEMS & GM
The Little Lab That's Charging Up the Volt Combats Time And Science in Race for Battery
Company says its battery will change future of cars
By Justin Hyde, Detroit Free Press Washington Staff, March 7, 2008
http://www.freep.com [search not currently working, but a good story...search for Fulop or Hyde or A123]

ARCWIRE NEWS SERVICE ON SAN FRANCISCO & PHEVS
[Arcwire.org is a news site dedicated to sustainability. We like to say our coverage is 'a deeper shade of green.']
Arcwire Interviews Jared Blumenfeld: Director of SF Environment. Part II
By Andy Mannle | Monday, 10 March 2008
http://arcwire.org/­content/­view/­65/­14/­
In Part II of our interview about San Francisco's 2008 Environmental Plan, Jared Blumenfeld explains why he's convincing Bay Area cities to buy plug-in hybrids from local chop shops.

ATTACKERS AND DEFENDERS OF GOOGLE'S RECHARGEIT PHEV FLEET
Google's plug-in hybrids to increase Bay Area smug levels
http://valleywag.com/­370887/­googles-plug+in-hybrids-to-increase-bay-area-smug-levels
In one of Silicon Valley's main gossip blogs, read many comments in response to generally uninformed criticisms.