As Toyota and General Motors push on with their plug-in hybrid campaigns for 2010, Ford President Mark Fields is asking the government for help in developing the new technology. At a conference held on Wednesday, Fields called the development of plug-in hybrid technology “a national priority” and urged the government to pass funding measures.
Fields cited that the governments of Japan, China, Korea, and India are funding such research, insinuating that the U.S. government must get on board for the US to be successful in the endeavor. “It seems clear that a business case will not evolve, in the near term, without support from Washington,” he said.
While both Ford and GM have committed to having plug-in hybrids to market by 2010, Ford says it will not begun production of plug-in hybrid vehicles for at least the next 5 to 10 years. Government funding would aid Ford’s development of the technology and thereby drastically decrease the time to market.
Fields also lobbied for tax breaks for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The measure has been considered by congress before but has failed to move forward. The move would cost the government an estimated $997 million over the next 10 years, according to Automotive News.
Fields also stressed the need for more domestic battery production. “It’s also important to note most battery supply is currently being developed in Asia,” Fields said. “For those looking to plug-ins to answer our energy security concerns, we must ensure a domestic battery supply.â€
Last year the Bush administration denied the domestic automakers a $500 million grant for battery research – a figure about three times their current spending.
