Washington Democrats are apparently seriously considering devoting a portion of the $800 billion economic stimulus bill expected to make its way through Congress next month to advanced vehicle and battery research. The money would be designed to help automakers build and develop advanced batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles in the United States.
“I’d be very surprised if there is not serious money for batteries in the stimulus bill,” Delaware Democrat Tom Carper told the Detroit News. “If we’re going to put all this money into battery development, it’s important to me and I think my colleagues that we build those batteries right here in America.”
Michigan’s congressional delegation has agreed to push for at least $1 billion in funds.
According to various reports, Congress is considering several options, ranging from directly granting money to battery research, creating a manufacturing program to ensure that batteries are developed and built in the U.S., and, according to some sources, doubling the $25 billion loan previously granted to automakers for retooling factories to build more efficient automobiles.
Detroit’s automakers have applied for $22 billion in loans from the retooling program and companies like electric carmaker Tesla , Delphi, and South Carolina electric carmaker RTEV have also applied for shares of the money.
General Motors asked for $8 billion to go towards the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze development, Ford asked for $5 billion and Chrysler LLC, which will introduce additional electric cars at next week’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, has requested $8.5 billion.
