U.S. and Sweden sign hybrid vehicle pact

GOTLAND, Sweden, July 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy says it and the Swedish Energy Agency have signed an agreement to accelerate consumer acceptance of plug-in hybrid vehicles.

U.S. Energy Department Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner and the director general of the Swedish agency, Tomas Kaberger, signed the memorandum of understanding that outlines a one-year, $1 million cost-sharing arrangement to be equally funded by the two governments.

The signing Monday "furthers the historic energy cooperation commitment between the United States and Sweden as we work together to advance the research, development and deployment of plug-in hybrid vehicles from the lab to the marketplace," Karsner said. "The advancement of clean energy technologies, such as plug-in hybrid vehicles, will help address the serious challenge of global climate change while enhancing our countries economic growth and increased energy security."

The Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory will work with Test Site Sweden to demonstrate plug-in technologies, support research and development, as well as share operational and consumer data and solutions to potential vehicle-to-grid problems.