Funding for Plug-ins

Want a plug-in that can travel at least 40 miles before being recharged? You're not alone. The U.S. Department of Energy has just awarded $30 million to General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., and General Electric Co. (teamed with Chrysler LLC) in funding over the next three years. And it's all about developing the range for plug-in hybrids that would satisfy most folks' daily round-trip commutes. After all, that's where 70 percent of America's average daily gasoline gets burned up.

The funded projects are to develop mass-produced vehicles that can compete effectively in the marketplace while slashing petroleum usage. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), each awardee must develop and demonstrate at least 80 PHEVs over the next three years, with the following breakdown: 10 vehicles the first year, 20 the second year, and a whopping 50 the third year. Talk about a work-load: that's almost one vehicle per week. We doubt if these develop teams are gonna be getting much sleep with those aggressive deadlines.

The good news is that we expect development projects like this to help bring viable, cost effective plug-ins to the masses in short order. Stay tuned.

photo © Saturn - electric plug-in