Brookings and Google sponsor plug-in vehicle forum
This week in Washington, DC The Brookings Institution and Google.org sponsored Plug-In Electric Vehicles 2008:What Role for Washington? This event focused on the ways policy makers and the federal government can help support bringing these essential vehicles to market. As the Wall Street Journal reports:
“Ford Americas President Mark Fields told the conference Wednesday that Congress must allocate money already approved for research programs dedicated to developing batteries. Mr. Fields noted that Japan, India and China are all significantly funding the research development and deployment of plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies, but he insisted the U.S. “must win” the race.”
Government really can play a role in this effort by continuing to support, both financially and through research, the creation of high voltage batteries that can bring plug-in vehicles to market. As Tony Clarke, head of General Motors North America operations, said at the conference “Government could help by increasing R&D funding for this vital area, while supporting domestic manufacturing of advanced batteries.”
As we discussed earlier this week in another post, the increased electrification of the automobile will allow for immediate reduction in demand for petroleum. These cars are capable of driving electrically without gasoline while producing zero emissions. Once the battery has been drained a generator re-charges the electric system while operating at an amazingly efficient 150 mile per gallon.
In regard to electric vehicles Mr. Clarke said “The debate has shifted from if this would happen to when,” and this week’s conference has given a little bit more focus to the ways government can aid our domestic auto industry as it pursues the goal of vehicle electrification.
