U.S. on track for one million EVs: DOE
"It's looking good," said Assistant Energy Secretary David Sandalow when asked by reporters on the chances of meeting the goal set by Obama.
"If you look at the plans of the major automotive manufacturers, there's a clear pathway to a million vehicles," Sandalow said.
Sandalow spoke to reporters after his keynote address to the Society of Automotive Engineers in Detroit.
Obama's goal of 1 million plug-in electric and hybrid cars by 2015 was a campaign pledge that he has restated since becoming president in January 2009. The goal was widely seen as well beyond optimistic forecasts for expansion of the alternative vehicles at the time, and there is skepticism that it can be met.
"The pace of innovation in this industry is extraordinary, and the interest around the world is extraordinary," he said. "But, partly it depends on American entrepreneurship and innovation. That's always served us very well in the past and I think it will do so in the future."
The DOE will soon announce how it will handle cuts to its energy efficiency and renewable energy program. He said he was not ready to say how much of those cuts will come in the automotive sector.
The cuts will not slow the Obama administration's effort on energy efficiency, he said.
"We will march forward aggressively to promote clean energy and we've got the budget to do it," Sandalow said.
Related News

Consumers Coalition wants Manitoba Hydro?s proposed rate increase rejected
WINNIPEG - The Consumers Coalition is urging the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to reject Manitoba Hydro’s current interim rate increase application.
Hydro is requesting a five per cent jump in electricity rates starting on January 1, claiming drought conditions warrant the increase but the coalition disagrees, saying a two per cent increase would be sufficient.
The coalition, which includes Harvest Manitoba, the Consumers’ Association of Canada-Manitoba, and the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, said a 5 per cent rate increase would put an unnecessary strain on consumer budgets, especially for those on fixed incomes or living up north.
"We feel that, in many ways,…