Toyota
Hybrid pacing
A hybrid vehicle -- a Toyota Camry -- will be the official pace car for an entire race for the first time in NASCAR history at Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. The hybrid must reach speeds close to 100 mph by the time it reaches the second turn of the track.
Long range
Nissan has announced its new, five-passenger all-electric car, which will be sold in Seattle as an early market in 2010, will have 100 miles of pure battery range -- more than double the battery range of some competitors' electric cars.
Chrysler
Mail haulers
Chrysler exhibited four all-electric Town & Country concepts last month to the U.S. Postal Service. The minivans are targeted specifically for mail delivery. Chrysler plans to apply for a federal grant to establish a nationwide fleet of the electric minivans for use by the Postal Service, and will help set up a charging network in the regions where the vehicles are used.
--NWautos staff, Associated Press