Google has announced its philanthropic endeavor RechargeIT initiative which will set out to reduce greenhouse emissions and oil dependence by encouraging hybrid, plug-in vehicles.
Google.org has given away $1 million in grants to organizations including Brookings Institution, CalCars and the Electrical Power Research Institute. It also has plans to request $10 million for proposals to fund development, adoption and commercialization of fully electric cars and those utilizing vehicle-to-grid technology. This request will be posted on its website to seek investment opportunities in companies that are working on forms of alternative transportation that reduce vehicle fossil fuel. The company also plans to install solar panels at its headquarters in Mountain View, CA, as a way of leading by example.