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Media Company Launches Site for Electric Car Shoppers

New Website Will Be First Dedicated to Providing Objective Consumer Information About Cars That Run on Electricity Instead of Petroleum

The web company behind HybridCars.com today launched PluginCars.com, creating a forum for shoppers, drivers, carmakers, municipalities, and energy companies. The site offers online community tools focused on the plug-in cars arriving later this year -- the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf -- as well as the 20 other upcoming electric-drive models, including the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Ford Focus Electric, Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Coda Sedan and Fisker Karma.

"Switching from the gas pump to the household outlet means big reductions in oil dependence, greenhouse gas emissions, and the risk of drivers getting stung with high gas prices," said Bradley Berman, founder of PluginCars.com and HybridCars.com.

Car companies will soon begin delivering a long list of new plug-in hybrids and electric models. Berman believes the pent-up demand for electric-drive vehicles is huge. "The future of the electric car movement depends on early adopters spreading the word about their honest, real-world experiences, good and bad," Berman said. "PluginCars.com will act as a word-of-mouth engine."

The electric vehicle industry is trying to overcome public perception around the last generation of electric cars, marketed primarily in California from 1996 to 2003. That history was documented in the 2006 film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Since that time, car companies and legislators have embraced plug-in cars as a critical environmental and energy strategy -- but even consumers who are enthusiastic about the technology are skeptical about what information to trust.

"Because of the history, it's crucial that this time around, we get it right," said Chelsea Sexton, one of the key figures in the documentary and an advisor and content contributor of the new site. "Credible, objective information from manufacturers and media will be key, but the educational and marketing power of the plug-in vehicle community should not be underestimated. Electric cars can be fast, comfortable, fun to drive and easy to recharge. PluginCars.com creates a channel for consumers to learn directly from experienced drivers as well as some of the most veteran voices in the industry."

In addition to community tools focused on individual electric vehicles, the site will feature an online user's guide to provide trustworthy, easy-to-understand information about how to charge a car, as well as a realistic driving range, a typical driving range, plug-in economics and related environmental issues. PluginCars.com calls upon industry experts to make regular contributions to the site -- and provides publishing tools for carmakers, utilities, environmentalists and city planners.

"For the past few years, we've been working with carmakers, energy suppliers, developers, and parking authorities to prepare for the arrival of the electric cars. And it's here," said Brian Beck, project manager for the sustainability group for the City of Vancouver. "Now we need to find new ways to engage directly with drivers. PluginCars.com will help us understand, in real time, how to help car owners purchase, use and recharge these clean energy vehicles."

The first buyers of new plug-in vehicles are likely to be current owners of hybrid gas-electric vehicles. Links between HybridCars.com and PluginCars.com will encourage nearly 2 million hybrid owners to consider migrating to cars that use mostly electricity.

For more information about the website, visit www.PluginCars.com

About PluginCars.com and HybridCars.com

Founded in 2003, HybridCars.com is the Internet's premier website dedicated to hybrid gas-electric vehicles and the full range of consumer information and tools about cars, energy, and the environment. PluginCars.com was launched as a sister site in May 2010. The mission of both sites is to provide trustworthy, clear information about the next generation of alternative energy vehicles, creating a movement of consumers eager to purchase cars and trucks that use less oil, have a smaller environmental impact and are fun to drive. Content from the websites is syndicated to Yahoo!Autos, Reuters, and numerous newspaper, television and radio station websites.