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AAA To Add Electric Car Recharging To California Roadside Assistance

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The American Automobile Association has announced plans to deploy electric vehicle mobile charging units in its roadside assistance operations, with California service beginning as early as August.

AAA will unveil its mobile charging roadside assistance vehicles at the Plug-in 2011 Conference and Exposition in Raleigh North Carolina next month, with unit deployment scheduled in six states, including California starting in August, according to AutoObserver.com.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

"People have got to be able to know that these things can be repaired or serviced on the road, including if they break down on the side of the road," said Detroit-based auto industry analyst John McElroy. "So, AAA is getting ready for this by starting to offer charging along with its tow trucks."

The service will also begin in Japan on a trial basis. Vehicles will be equipped with level two and level three chargers.

McElroy said the electric car market is very small right now, with hybrids comprising just three percent of the US market.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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