District 5 Councilman Claude Mattox announced that Phoenix is joining the “Plug-in Partners” national campaign. The goal is to urge automakers to develop plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as a way to reduce air pollution and provide consumers with long-term relief from skyrocketing gas prices. The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously to support a resolution promoting the manufacture and use of plug-in hybrid vehicles and other advanced alternative fuel vehicles.

“These types of vehicles could dramatically reduce the growing problem of auto pollution in Phoenix and Maricopa County,” said Mattox, chair of the City Council Land Use, Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee. “The energy to power plug-in hybrids costs less than a dollar for the electricity equivalent to a gallon of gas. That beats the $3 a gallon we’re all paying now.”

Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine today’s new gas-electric hybrid technology with larger batteries and an operating range of 25 to 35 miles or more, and 80-plus miles per-gallon. Phoenix joins other major cities in the campaign. For more information, visit www.pluginpartners.org.