Seeking relief from pain at the pump? Electric vehicles are ready to roll

With gas prices rising above four dollars per gallon, families and businesses are feeling the effects.  And once again elected officials are clamoring for action to instantly reverse that trend.  But we know that you can't bring down energy prices overnight.

Fortunately, since 2009, the Department of Transportation has been investing in transportation options that free Americans from the high cost of refilling their gas-powered cars.

Whether it's high-speed rail, transit, or walkable, bikeable streets, we are working to foster alternatives so people can choose to quit feeding their local gas pumps and continue feeding their families, their college savings accounts, and their retirement funds.

"Innovation Motorcade" charges through Washington

One approach that is already reducing fuel costs for drivers and creating jobs is the Obama Administration's support for electric and hybrid vehicles.  Earlier today, I was happy to share that news at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s 2011 Conference.  And, for those who didn’t realize the maturity of this industry, today’s “Innovation Motorcade” of electric vehicles parading through Washington, DC, was a real eye-opener.

A few years ago, US businesses made just 2 percent of batteries for emerging cars like the Chevy Volt and the electric Ford Focus. But a few years from now, America will be home to 40 percent of the world's automotive battery manufacturing capacity.  That means jobs.  In fact, workers are on the job right now, pioneering advanced batteries at Compact Power in Michigan.

It also means the status quo on America's roadways is beginning to give way to a future--long overdue--in which electric and hybrid vehicles are the norm, not the exception.

Am I sad that my Buick Regal is about to become a classic?  Not at all.  I'm excited that we're finally on the verge of a 21st century transportation system that suits the energy and environmental realities we face.

We've arrived at this point because the Obama Administration proposed a $7,500 tax rebate for customers who choose hybrid or electric cars.

We've arrived at this point because, in addition to its support of new battery technologies, DOT is expanding access to the charging stations that will give drivers the confidence to climb into electric vehicles.  That includes a grant to an Oregon-based pilot program that will install charging stations every 50 miles along the busy I-5 corridor.

And we've arrived at this point by helping create a market for electric and hybrid vehicles so automakers have an incentive to build more of them.  In a little over two years, the government has doubled its stock of hybrid cars and trucks.  The President has also directed departments and agencies to make sure that, by 2015, 100 percent of the vehicles we buy are fuel-efficient or clean-energy.

America's businesses are also helping accelerate the transition.  Shippers like FedEx and UPS--as well as other companies--are keenly aware of trends in gas prices and are already leading the way by purchasing advanced techonology vehicles.

All of this is good news for those seeking an alternative to refilling their family car with $4-per-gallon gasoline.  But we haven't turned the corner yet.  We still need the support of the enterprising folks at today's Electric Drive Conference.  They have been terrific partners in helping us get this far, and we're counting on them to continue turning today's promise of America's electric vehicle industry into tomorrow's reality.

Comments

[Cheryl Fergeson]

Please support a clean car standard of 60 miles per gallon! A clean car standard of 60 miles an hour will help relieve high fuel cost at the pump, reduce pollution, and bring new vehicle technologies (and the jobs they create) to market. This would be a historic and huge step forward for all Americans, leading to a cleaner and healthier environment for the people of our country and for all the inhabitants of the earth!

[Joan Raphael]

Until there are more charging stations, I can't buy an electric car, as much as I'd like to do so. I take regular trips of 200 miles roundtrip and the electric car won't be useful until there are those charging stations. Please encourage more progress on this front!

[JOan Columbus]

It is time that we realize that the earth will not survive us if we don't make serious changes in our life styles NOW.
Passing laws making cars cleaner is a step in the right direction. It is urgent that you do at least that.

[Nina Pykare]

I'm 78 years old. I want to drive an electric car. Please do what you can to see that they get on the road. Thanks.

[Dr. Jacob R. Raitt]

We are watching your actions very closely, and wish to have 60 mpg vehicles within my lifetime. Just for your clarification, I am 75 years old, and I intend to purchase a 60 mpg vehicle. Hurry!

[James]

We need strong mileage standards. Don't let the automakers water down the high mileage standards we need.

[Pat Gottschalk]

Seeing small cars on the road, in parking lots and in stations is so heartwarming. It seems so good to be realistic and to conserve energy.

Please, please take action to support low-consuming cars. It's our FUTURE.

[Spencer Stall]

We had to bail out GM and Chrysler be cause they produced cars that got lousy gas mileage and nobody bought them. The Chinese have already instituted a 35 MPPG standard on their auto makers. I we are to fix our air polutution problem we must insist our auto makers bring their fleet MPG to 60 MPG. If they won't do it, NO MORE BAIL OUTS!

[Lucy]

Stronger clean car standards are the only proven way to bring down the cost of energy, create jobs, protect our environment, and save consumers' money at the pump.

[J Barillet]

Dear Mr LaHood,
How do you expect to arrive at these clean cars without making a standard for gas mileage? You need to establish a standard of at least 60 miles per gallon. You need to promote the idea that electric cars will be practical for everyone and cheap enough for everyone. I think you might be letting the automakers drag their feet as they have been doing for the last many many years.
According to Carl Safina, an ecologist who has won a MacArthur genius grant, "Going to plug-in hybrids would drop driving costs to the equivalent of one dollar per gallon; gasoline use would drop by 80 percent - without reducing the number of cars or miles driven." (from The View from Lazy Point by Safina, p. 290) You are missing this opportunity by not pushing harder on this.
I am paying almost $4 per gallon now, and am starting to curtail my driving. However, that is not the solution. I also am concerned about the prospect of running out of oil as well as the wars brought on partly by the need for oil.
I urge you to promote stronger mileage standards and the development and marketing of electric or hybrid cars.
Thank you

[John Kohler]

Where is my pre-addressed petition that I can sign for Mr. LaHood?

John Kohler
Daly Ctiy,
ca

[Dagmar Fabian]

The American Public is thirsting for cutting edge technologies in the transportation industry, most of all in the car industry. It is high time for the US to regain leadership in this area.

[Robert Brennan]

Secretary LaHood:

High oil prices may best promote electric cars But- gas and diesel vehicles will be with us for a long time. We must have high gas mileage standards in the future. This is in the hands of your agency. Set the standard high, 50 or 60 MPG. If set as a fleet standard that will get auto makers start turning out electric cars people will want to buy.

[Rebecca Baker]

I have a friend who has an old VW Jetta that gets similar mileage to the new hybrids, so I have to ask "Why is this country going backwards in it's fuel efficiency standards?!" It's no secret that we can make a gas engine that gets 50 mpg.

[Eden Kennan]

Stronger clean car standards are the only proven way to bring down the cost of energy, create jobs, protect our environment, and save consumers' money at the pump.

[June chaplin]

Sir,
Please support a clean car standard of 60 miles per gallon that will help relieve pain at the pump, cut pollution, and bring new vehicle technologies—and the jobs they create—to market.
Thankyou,
June chaplin
David Aitken

[Andrew Peterson]

There was a time in the '70s and early '80s when Hondas were getting over 50mpg, with the VCC engine and 5-speed transmission. I have a friend in Connecticut who had a CRX HF model (with the tall gearing and the small engine) who told me she was getting 62mpg with mostly highway driving. I drove that car once, and it had plenty of power. Why aren't _all_ vehicles getting _at_least_ 40 mpg? It's because they haven't been _required_ to do any better than they're doing.

[Corey Tapper]

I am very encouraged that this administration is beginning to take car efficiency seriously. Developing clean car standards would not only save consumers money, it would also be beneficial for the environment. Now is the time to set high fuel efficiency standards. I agree with Secretary LaHood's plan to require 60 mpg fuel efficiency by 2025. This is an ambitious goal, but it is absolutely necessary. I hope Secretary LaHood sticks to his principles. Please do not give in to car companies and big oil, who are fighting against higher fuel efficiency.

[Rob Brostoff]

Higher mileage gas and diesels are important as electrics will not replace them until they can go farther on a single charge, or battery packs are quickly exchangeable. I'm going to buy an electric as soon as I can go 200 miles on a charge. I live 40 miles from the nearest major city and can't commute with the current electric technology. Another important change is moving from gas taxes to road use taxes or roads will become impossible to properly maintain given the current taxing sources.

[Darlene Georges]

Electric cars are not the same as hybrids, that feed power back into the batteries, while all electric sounds even better, how is that electric being produced? Most is produced by burning fossil feuls, which are just as bad if not worse than using gasoline. And thus feeds another dirty industry that pollutes our environment. Or by dangerous nuclear plants. We need more renewable energy, that is efficient and safe. Building codes should be changed to include solar roofing on all buildings. Solar can also be added to tall city buildings on south facing walls and on rooftops along with wind turbines. NYC could potentially power itself as well sa other major cities and even small towns.
Vast areas of our country have no passenger rail service despite having tracks that run through every small town for freight. Should we turn that rail into a shared rail for up to date efficient passenger trains as well there would be much fewer cars on the roads, less pollution, less traffic jams etc.
So please do not insult us by selling us the idea that electric cars is the answer to all our problems. Especially when more pollution of air, water and land comes from industries (including power plants) then from cars. It' time to make the really tough decisions and create a shared power network, not by big power corporations, but by each city and town, shared from all the structures.

[Nancy Lyles]

Dear Mr. LaHood,
Stronger clean car standards are the only proven way to bring down the cost of energy, create jobs, protect our environment, and save consumers' money at the pump. Please act in support of these much needed improvements in our American quality of life.
Thank You,
Nancy Lyles

[Sarah Melcher]

This all sounds very rosey but what is consistently missing from fuel efficiency discussions is the fact that for a huge portion of the American people (and most of the town I live in), a new car is someone else's old car. If you mandate 60mpg by 2025, it will be nearly 2040 before the vast majority of cars on the road are 60mpg or over, and that is totally unacceptable. I would love to see that 60mpg be taken aggressively -- say, by 2018. But the reality is that we have been hearing this spiel for so many years that it seems like just more hot air, and the oil industry has so much money to throw at stalling efforts, that I don't believe America will ever make the majority of its cars fuel efficient no matter how much we ask for it.

[Jon W Candy MD]

Better efficiency standards.

Is not it strange that at least CA's gas prices are coming down when so many are threatening API's subsidies and loopholes?

[David R. Guinnup]

I support increasing vehicle fuel mileage standards, and assisting the transition to cleaner more efficient motor vehicles. We must reduce our CO2 and hydro-carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, foreign and domestic. Health and security of our nation and planet depend upon us doing so. Second, too many other worthy and critical uses for oil derived products (synthetics, polymers, etc.) to waste oil by burning it.

David R. Guinnup, AICP
Bear, Delaware 19701

[Matthew Swyers]

Increasing fleetwide fuel efficiency standards is the best way to lower gas prices. Raising standards to 60 mpg would save vehicle owners $7,500 over the life of the vehicle at a gas price of $3.50 per gallon. Compared to a vehicle with today’s fuel efficiency, that’s equivalent to a price cut of more than $1.00 per gallon even after paying for the additional cost of the cleaner vehicle. Strong standards will give automakers and consumers more choices rather than trying to find a “silver bullet” technology: Automakers can reach a 60 mpg standard for new light-duty vehicles in model year 2020 by applying a wide range of existing and emerging vehicle technologies. Conventional vehicles, hybrids, and plug-in electric vehicles are all expected to be part of the mix, but manufacturers can choose technology packages that appeal to their consumers and fit their business plans. The Obama administration’s clean car standards through 2016 are projected to create more than 200,000 net new jobs by 2020 across the country. The second phase of standards would continue this trend of creating new jobs in U.S. manufacturing and increasing overall economic growth. We need to increase these and give strong incentives to move to ALL electric vehicles. Our addiction to oil is ruining our economy and health.