Five Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid cars are now in San Diego as part of the company’s efforts to find out how they will perform in the real world. Qualcomm and the California Center for Sustainable Energy each have two, San Diego Gas & Electric has one.

The cars are among 600 production models based on the 2010 Prius that Toyota is lending to organizations worldwide to fine-tune its design and help utilities better understand how the electric cars will affect grid operations.

Each car features a larger battery than a standard Prius and can go 13 miles, and up to 62 mph, using only electricity.

ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECTY | PowerRating), a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy has expanded The EV Project to include two new cities -- Los Angeles, California and Washington, D.C. -- and has broadened the offer of free home chargers to include qualified new owners of the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended-range capability. The expansion also adds an additional 1,000 Nissan LEAF zero-emission cars to the Project.

CCSE to administer statewide clean vehicle program

The state has chosen CCSE as project administrators for a new zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicle rebate program set to launch in spring 2010. Details about eligible vehicles, rebate amounts, online applications and supporting documents will be available on the CCSE website in February.

The Zero-Emission Vehicle and Plug-In Light-Duty Vehicle Rebate Project (Clean Vehicle Rebate Project) is intended to encourage and accelerate zero-emission vehicle deployment and technology innovation.  The project provides rebates of up to $5000 for California purchasers of zero-emission vehicles, including zero-emission cars, trucks, commercial medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, motorcycles, and neighborhood electric vehicles, as well as plug-in hybrid electric light-duty vehicles.

An estimated 600 San Diegans packed into CCSE’s Street Smart to get a glimpse at green vehicles, test drive electric bikes and scooters and learn about alternative transportation options on Sunday, June 7.

A fun-packed family day, Street Smart attendees vied for a chance to speak with author and filmmaker Josh Tickell about his new documentary “Fuel,” a film about America’s dependence on fossil fuels, while others walked around the expo checking out factory model hybrids, electric conversion cars and neighborhood electric vehicles. Visitors also toured exhibits in the Energy Resource Center, which featured a display of books and DVDs on transportation that are available for loan to local residents, businesses and schools. Special thanks go to the major sponsors of Street Smart: Union Bank of California, Enterprise Rideshare, Sanyo, Mossy Toyota, and San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition.

Street Smart attracted tremendous attention from TV news, with extensive coverage by KUSI and stories on KFMB, KGTV, KSWB, XETV and KTLA in Los Angeles. KFMB 760 AM’s Car Talk radio show featuring Gerald Levy and friends did a live remote broadcast from Street Smart that can be downloaded as a podcast.

Street Smart was terrific fun for all. You can check the news, hear the podcast on Car Talk or review the presentations and slideshows about this amazing event.