Congressional Briefing on Flexible Fuel Plug-in Hybrids

The National Plug-in Partner Campaign, in which EESI is a founding member, will help demonstrate to automobile manufacturers that a market for flexible-fuel Plug-in Hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) exists today. The national campaign, launched last January, has support from nearly 200 state and local governments, utilities, national security, environmental and public interest groups.

The transportation sector, which is 98 percent dependent on petroleum, accounts for two-thirds of U.S. oil consumption, making it the single largest contributor to America's foreign oil dependence. A shift to manufacturing flexible-fuel PHEVs could be central to revitalization of the American auto industry by positioning domestic automakers as leaders in this emerging technology.

Federal and state support of this technology can accelerate commercial deployment. The FY 2007 budget request for the Department of Energy includes $6.17 million for advanced battery development. The New York State budget request calls for a $10 million competitive grant program to support research and production facilities for flexible-fuel hybrids and PHEVs.