HARTFORD, CT - Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed a collaborative agreement with Nissan for the LEAF electric car to help further the adoption of electric vehicles in the state, according to a Nissan release.

The state's Electric Vehicles Infrastructure Council is examining the best ways the state can build a charging infrastructure. The council issued its final report in September on how to prepare Connecticut for the arrival of plug-in cars this year and in 2011. The council, made up of state agency representatives and other members of the public and private sector, set a goal of having 25,000 electric vehicles statewide by 2020. It considers this goal "a viable target that aligns with President Obama's nation goal of 1 million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015," according to the report.

The report includes other recommendations, which include: (1) enacting legislation to provide tax incentives and grants for EV purchase, (2) supporting a statewide EV charging infrastructure network, (3) working with neighboring states to develop a regional corridor for access to public charging stations.