By Auto123.com
Is there a single Internet user out there who has never heard about Google? Probably not. Despite its fairly young existence, Google has become the leading search engine for the web.
Hundreds of millions use it on a daily basis. The company behind the website is now a Wall Street phenomenon. What's more, North Americans are even using "google" as a verb! And, ironically, those who google "hybrid cars" over the next few months will likely find Google's name among the top search results.
Indeed, Google and one of its partners, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., recently unveiled an experimental vehicle fleet combining hybrid technology with plug-in capability to recharge the batteries. The vehicles boast a fuel economy of 74 mpg. In addition, Google.org, Google Inc.'s philanthropic arm, announced a $10-million investment to accelerate the marketing of plug-in hybrids.
The companies started by modifying six conventional hybrid cars (4 Toyota Priuses and 2 Ford Escapes) with batteries that can draw and feed electricity to and from a standard electrical outlet. Said batteries were designed and provided by A123 Systems.
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By The Times of India
ST PETERSBURG, Russia — Ford Motor Co. said on Tuesday it would boost production from its plant in Russia to 125,000 cars per year by 2009 from 72,000 now.
The U.S. automaker also said in a news release that it would launch production of its Mondeo saloon at its St Petersburg factory, which already makes the popular Focus model.
Ford was an early entrant into Russia, which has offered tax breaks to foreign car makers setting up production operations.
Its car sales in Russia rose 122 percent in the first half of this year to 82,000 units, according to industry figures.
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The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000
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