Renewable Gossip

The Obama administration announced today $2.4 billion in grants to car companies and battery-makers, setting the course for US manufacturers to build next-generation auto batteries for hybrid and plug-in cars. Michigan-based companies received approximately half of the funds.

Workers at Johnson Controls assemble lithium ion automotive batteries. Johnson Controls, the single largest recipient, will receive $299.2 million in government grants.

“If we want to reduce our dependence on oil, put Americans back to work and reassert our manufacturing sector as one of the greatest in the world, we must produce the advanced, efficient vehicles of the future,” said Obama in Elkhart, Indiana.

The spending is the US government’s bet on battery-powered vehicles—an attempt to overcome the challenges of creating small, lightweight, reliable and affordable rechargeable hybrid and electric car batteries, as well as the infrastructure to allow drivers to bypass gas stations and charge their cars from the electric grid.

Almost all battery manufacturing for advanced technology vehicles is currently based in Asia.

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