U.S. backs $30 million to build plug-in hybrids

The Department of Energy announced a $30 million effort Thursday with Ford, General Motors, and General Electric to bring to market by 2014 plug-in hybrid electric cars that drive 40 miles on a single charge.

"The projects announced today demonstrate a shared public-private sector commitment to advance clean vehicle technologies and will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil while also confronting the serious challenge of global climate change," Andy Karsner, assistant secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said in a statement. He made the announcement Thursday at a conference on plug-in electric vehicles sponsored by the Brookings Institution and Google.org.

Among the trio of three-year projects, General Motors would seek to improve lithium-Ion battery packs and charging systems, integrating its research by 2011 within a test fleet. On its team are the Electric Power Research Institute, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, and the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Ford is charged with speeding up the mass-production of plug-in hybrids, focusing on improving batteries and building prototype vehicles. Also involved with its project are utility Southern California Edison, the Electric Power Research Institute, and Johnson Controls-Saft, which specializes in battery technology for hybrids.

Also part of the government's project, General Electric is partnering with Chrysler to develop a dual-battery system enabling a vehicle to travel 40 miles on an electric charge.

The government and auto makers will split the funding. The Department of Energy's intended half would rely on appropriations by Congress.

Earlier Thursday, General Motors' North American president Troy Clarke pleaded for government help to improve car battery technology. Electric vehicle makers are on the prowl for lighter batteries with better range and improved energy density.

Toyota, meanwhile, aims to sell a plug-in hybrid by 2010.

The Department of Energy also announced that it will add a flex fuel, plug-in hybrid Ford Escape to its fleet for officials to use around Washington, D.C. The car accepts 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.

[coryschulz]

Toyota and Honda will have better technologies on the market faster, and they will be more reliable, and they will be more enjoyable to use, and they will probably even be a little cheaper. Man... America just sucks at making cars... I would never in my life buy an American car. They're just too much trouble.

[udzack]

America does not "suck" at making cars. Actually just the opposite. Sure we had some troubles in the 70's through the late 80's early 90's - but we are back on track now. The vehicles have the same technology as their asian counterparts and are quite dependable. And the reason that the asian (I am not saying foreign - you should see what a German auto worker gets paid!!!) vehicles are generally cheaper is that the employees are, well basically endentured servants. They make very little money and yes, Toyota is setting sales and production records left and right, but at what point do some of their employees over-sea's begin to enjoy that success? You should do a little research on KIA auto and their lack of on safety standards or fair hiring/firing practices. Sure , the UAW and the Auto makers need to work on a few things still, but clearly so do you. So go do a little research and get back to me ,.

[ericyen]

too little to late . . . Toyota vows plug-in hybrid by 2010
double the money and get it before the Japanese Car manufactures

http://www.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/06/11/japan.toyota.ap/index.html

[assman]

completely agree.. it's sad that americans used to be the big innovators and now we're the slow-pokes that can't keep up with foreign competition.. maybe if obama wins he'll focus more on technology.

[open-mind]

Unfortunate for Toyota that it will take them until 2010 to finally produce a few fleet plugins. Chevy will be doing that in 2009 with their Volt, about a year before Toyota. I invite you to follow the development of this impressive new car at gm-volt.com.

[ericyen]

too little to late . . . Toyota vows plug-in hybrid by 2010
double the money and get it before the Japanese Car manufactures

http://www.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/06/11/japan.toyota.ap/index.html

[open-mind]

Unfortunate for Toyota that it will take them until 2010 to finally produce a few fleet plugins. Chevy will be doing that in 2009 with their Volt, about a year before Toyota. I invite you to follow the development of this impressive new car at gm-volt.com.

[yacahuma]

so let me understand this. Are you saying the US gov gave 30M to the incompetent Ford, General Motors, and General Electric?? The biggest invention this companies have made if the cup holder. Give me a break. Toyota and Honda will be first. No doubt about it.

[blsith]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ev1

Should check that before you run your mouth. The American car manufacturers have some impressive engine making abilities, they just don't have investors willing to spend years to make a profit. They want money now.

The goal now shouldn't be to try to "beat to market" for them, it should be to "develop beyond". This generation is lost, and they are in catch-up (still). The next generation of engines and trasnportation is only a decade away, and with steady advances and some well-timed risk they can take the lead again if they really wanted to. Not sure they have ever really wanted to, though.

[open-mind]

I'm afraid you're mistaken. Unfortunate for Toyota that it will take them until 2010 to finally produce a few fleet plugins. Chevy will be doing that in 2009 with their Volt, about a year before Toyota. I invite you to follow the development of this impressive new car at gm-volt.com.

[William Schnippert]

@ coryschulz. I wish I had a crystal ball like you and could foresee the future. if you ask me, none of this is decided yet. They are announcing that they are going to push battery technlogy to make it cost feasible with $4.00 per gallon gas in a few years. (Never mind that battery technology has been going to make the gasoline engine obsolete "any yaar now" since about 1905). There are too many other variables, such as the prospect of $2.50 per gallon gas next year, or a breakthrough in Hydrogen fuel cells, or even a breakthrough in the production of synthetic gasoline. I wouldn't put all my money on batteries winning in the next few years.

[Anonymous Hero]

Not to mention that Tesla's technology gets many more miles on a single charge and doesn't even use gasoline... Good job, Department of Energy. Keep giving money to uncompetitive freaks that are destroying our economy.

[open-mind]

Wow, I see the media's anti-Detroit brainwashing campaign has really been affective. Apparently they didn't inform you that Chevy will be producing electric plugin fleet vehicles in 2009 with their Volt, about a year before Toyota. I invite you to follow the development of this impressive new car at gm-volt.com.

[Joe Real]

How about Aptera Motors? Their type 1e all electric vehicle will be sold by the end of this year. The type 1e gets 120 miles to a charge. The battery pack is only 10 kWH. Costs between 1-2 cents per mile. They should support Aptera also.

Tesla motors have been saying how ugly the Toyota Priuses are, but they are stunned by the sheer beauty of Aptera. Hyper efficiency and beauty can go together.

[Blind-Sided]

We're going to spend $30M to have 40 minutes of electric drive time by 2014? As Aretha Franklin sings, "...you better think! Think about what you're tryin' to do...."

Let us journey back to 2005, when an ABC poll revealed that "...90% of Americans say they usually drive ... 87 minutes a day...." Three years ago, the technology we will have 6 years from now was obsolete! See http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Traffic/Story?id=485098&page=1

Think! $30M will get us technology that was outdated three years ago! Adding insult to injury, the same ABC poll revealed that commuters traveling by car averaged 100 minutes behind the wheel, while parents with children averaged 104 minutes as "...compared with 77 minutes for people without kids...." In other words, three years ago, we needed alternative fuel vehicles that would reduce fuel consumption, decrease travel cost and lower the emission of greenhouse gasses.

So when did it first occur to Americans to develop a hybrid vehicle? It would seem that American auto manufacturers only became interested in alternative fuel vehicles after Honda and Toyota had introduced hybrids to the world markets. So, following in the footsteps of foreign auto makers, Ford introduced the Escape, a gas-friendly SUV, in 1996. But it was actually a concept that had been introduced in America 1905 and patented around 1908. Unfortunately, there was no demand for the technology at that time. Even more unfortunate, is that noting was done with the technology until after other auto makers had seduced the world with sleek, effieient, green-friendly automobiles. See http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=435222

But, America will make up for that, by spending $30M in taxpayer money to develop outdated technology that will not fit the 2005 needs of the American consumer! Well, I suppose they could sell it in Mexico, like the Nova and the VW Beetle.

If we market cars as well as we market democracy, we may be in very deep trouble!!!

[ReVeLaTeD]

40 MILES. Not 40 "minutes".

Also, to the people complaining about the low time, this is a HYBRID, people, not a straight electric. Straight electrics get 200 miles between charges because they have to; a hybrid kicks in with standard fuel after the 40 mile mark. Considering most commutes average 20 miles, this is more than plenty. It's not going to eliminate fuel, just supplant it.

My only complaint is that I don't think the government should be paying for this. Force the car manufacturers to do this out of their big pockets by requiring lower emissions and higher mileages. The government shouldn't be paying a dime for something like this.

[yacahuma]

give the 30M in something similar to the X competition.

[yepperdepper]

40 miles between charges!!!!!!!! Who the @#*$%2@ are they kidding.

Wright speed, over 200 mi between charges.

Tesla, over 200 mi between charges.

Aptera, over 200 mi between charges.

Crap like this just makes me ill.
The dumb_ _ _ es in Washington always look out after their friends in the military industrial complex. We need to vote the Bast _ _ _ s out of office. I realize that the DOE isn't elected, however the rat bast_ _ _ s that supposedly have hold of the purse strings are elected. I think that half of them should be brought up on charges of gross in competence.
Enough I say, this crap has gone on far to long to be shrugged off.

[rslc]

Please get your facts right before posting such comments.

WrightSpeed and Aptera (electric model) last much less between charges.

[assman]

By 2014... by that time Toyota will be completely dominating the market. I swear some of these American auto companies lack any real ambition to innovate.

Also, I thought the A123 Batteries American start-up company was already working with Chevrolet on their electric hybrid Volt car to provide 40MPG. Again, set sights higher and invest more highly on research and development. We can do better than this.

[assman]

i mean *40 miles per battery charge**

[open-mind]

That's correct, A123 is one of their two suppliers competing for the Volt. I invite you to follow the development of this impressive new car at gm-volt.com.

[JakesOnline]

I smell a rat. Why trust them? GM sold the NiMh technology used in the EV1 and Rav4 EV to Texaco/Chevron (BIG OIL)!! This is obviously a ploy to keep oil in the loop and give our failed governemt a PR blip on the environmental radar. BS. The money would be better spent on battery, wind, solar, tidal, geothermal R&D. I don't want my tax dollars going toward this scam.

[robvme]

2014? It can be done today. $30 million is hardly anything. How about the feds take a part of that gas tax they take from the pump and start funding some mass transit systems like the rest of the world? Transit systems that work, are on time, clean, safe, and get you were you need to be without tons of transfers. It was the government that was swayed by big oil and Goodyear to completely dismantle our transportation infrastructure so that gas and tires could be used and consumed by buses and cars.

Yeah, plug in hybrid, I am all for it. I would like the option of not having to drive at all. $30 million is nothing. I agree with the comment above, give that money to a competition or to one of the smaller innovators. This is the 1970's all over again.

[ericyen]

Send your comments here . . . [e-mail]
Tell them to spend the money on innovative companies like http://www.teslamotors.com/ .
The BIG 3 American car makers will use up $30 Million just in meeting time.
While Tesla Motors already has there car on the road.

[fxjamusa]

Too late for Toyota/Honda/GM. Phoenix Motor Cars has the solution = NO GAS and 250 mpc(miles per charge) by 2009 using non-explosive batteries with a 12-YEAR lifespan. Costs around $6 to fully charge batteries within 5-6 hours or 10 minutes using a special charging unit. Now if they can only ramp up their production and lower the price range from $17K - $20K they would mop up the market. Website: http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com

Go you YouTube and check out the videos too.

[open-mind]

Sounds like a nice car if you can find one, can get it serviced locally, and they stay in business. One correction though ... the range is 130MPC, not 250MPC. Their FAQ states the 250MPC upgrade might be available next year. Your charging info applies to the 130MPC version.

[rdupuy11]

GM already has the Chevy Volt for 2010. This represents another delay.
And even this new date is BS, and somewhere close to 2014 they will announce 2018.

The only thing that will make the change is the fact that Toyota and Honda are going to do it, and increasingly, they are the only relevant car companies anyway.

[open-mind]

What's being delayed? The Volt is still planned for 2010 with fleet vehicles planned for next year.

[rdupuy11]

p.s. you all are exactly right. If they think its OK to sit on the pot until 2014.

Right now, people are adopting 4 day work weeks, are working from home, taking the bus, buying a scooter, car pooling....you name it, to cut back on miles. Less miles driven, means less wear on the car, means, less often buying a car.

But when you do go to buy the car, you buy the toyota.

[celticbrewer]

Thank you rdupuy11 for posting what I was going to. The Volt will debut with 10,000 cars in 2010 and then go mainstream a year later. It'd help to have Toyota provide some competition, though. As for H*nda- What's their claim to fame lately? Bragging about the oh-so-efficent 32 MPH oddysey? My co-worker's 10 year old (150k miles) chrysler minvan gets 32 mph. Or the gas pigs ridgeline and pilot? H*nda gets worse and worse and more expensive with every passing year. But at lest they have a robot that can conduct a symphony- praise be!

[rslc]

They should give more to battery makers.
What do these car companies know about batteries?

[Manos_Lijeros]

The problem with this solution is that the energy used to produce electricity from the plug may be from burning coal or other petroleum-based fuels. If so, this "plug-in" car does not help reduce emissions. The gas burnt in a car engine may give more energy per volume of pollution than the energy per volume of pollution provided by petroleum-based electric facilities...

Not the solution unless electricity is provided by solar or wind energy is it?

[Joe Real]

Manos, if you look out our electricity production, the contribution of Imported Oil to our electric production is negligible. Most of the electric energy are locally produced. And we are making the production even cleaner.

The emissions from coal power plants are easier to deal with because they are point source, unlike with gasoline or diesel fuel, the pollution is widespread and harder to contain and deal with.

Most importantly, if we all go electric, even overnight, feasibility studies show that if we recharge every night, we have current capacity to support 84% of all vehicle transportation if we convert them into all electric right now. But of course, it will not be overnight conversion, and we can deal with any increases of electrical consumption very easily and cleanly, the net effect is that we don't need to send our money abroad to get blood oil.