Nissan's prototype electric car hits Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Gov. Ted Kulongoski continues to pitch Oregon as the nation's all-electric vehicle hub.

At a news conference the governor test drove a Nissan all-electric vehicle Monday morning - the same vehicle he drove during his November trade visit to Asia. The test vehicles, which have large letters “EV” for Electric Vehicle on the sides, are based on the Nissan Cube series of cars, which Nissan calls a “mobile device.”

Right before Kulongoski jumped behind the wheel, he described the all-electric technology and green technology in general as "the future of Oregon's economy" and environment.

PGE continues to build charging stations for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles around Portland and Salem.

Nissan plans to bring all-electric vehicles to Oregon in late 2010. The state will be one of the nation's first markets.

On Tuesday, a Norway-based company will come to town as it searches for a U.S. location for an electric car manufacturing plant.