Green Vehicle Research and Development Bill Passes Subcommittee

There is a bill making its way through the US House that would increase funding for research into advanced technology vehicles and components. The House Science and Technology subcommittee on energy cleared a bill to increase U.S. Department of Energy funding by over 50 percent to $550 million for fiscal 2010. It will be presented to the full committee next week.

The money would be used to look at batteries and storage devices, hybridization and electrification, hydrogen fuel cells, engine systems and components. Along with this would be further research for medium-to-heavy-duty commercial trucks and transit vehicles, and to recruit new industry participants such as parts suppliers. Earlier this week, a bill was passed allowing increased funds for the development of CNG powered vehicles. Our current Congress is definitely on the right track, but may have to become more forceful.

There needs to be legislation that demands US automakers deliver electric cars, plug-in hybrid electric cars, CNG and LPG vehicles and biodiesel capable trucks and cars. Without such laws, the automakers are reticent to build these alternate energy vehicles and instead rely on the business as usual approach. In order to lessen our demand for foreign oil, this is exactly what it will take.

Since the US Government now owns a majority of GM, there would not be any issues or conflicts in legislating that the company produce these vehicles. A timeline needs to be put in place with sanctions that apply to automakers who lag behind. We want the ability to walk into our local car dealers and have a choice of alternate energy cars and trucks. Today, there is simply no choice as they all burn gasoline or diesel fuel.