On June 18, the philanthropic branch of search engine giant Google announced the launch of an initiative named RechargeIT. The program will put $11 million toward the development of viable plug-in, electric automobiles and associated technology.

The first million dollars of the initiative will be split between the Brookings Institution, CalCars, the Electrical Power Research Institute, Plug-In America, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and Dr. William Kempton of the University of Delaware. Those funds will go toward work on public education, federal policiy initiatives, research and development, and the planning and implementation of a plug-in infrastructure.

Google announced its commitment to fighting climate change and global warming last September by indicating its plans to invest in companies whose goal was the creation of a plug-in hybrid that would return 100 miles per gallon.

Working in conjunction with Pacific Gas and Electric, Google already uses six hybrid vehicles (both the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape) that use an extended battery pack yielding as much as 75 miles per gallon.

Later this summer Google will formally request proposals for the distribution of the remainder of the funds involved in the RechargeIT initiative.

In the press release announcing the program Dr. Larry Brilliant, Executive Director of Google.org said, "Google is committed to using its resources to help solve the global climate challenge. Google.org is a hybrid philanthropy, bringing together the active engagement of the broader Google corporation, as well as investments in for-profits, traditional grants, policy work, and public information. RechargeIT brings together all of these elements to help accelerate progress on plug-ins."