Critics: $2.4 Billion in Electric Car Grants Were Biased | Hybrid Cars

Critics: $2.4 Billion in Electric Car Grants Were Biased | Hybrid Cars: "California companies were also overlooked for grant money. Prior to the announcement of grant winners, Jeff DePew, CEO of Menlo Park-based battery-maker Imara, told San Francisco Business Times: “If the government just invests in the ones that are big names and already incumbent, they’ll be investing in first generation technology that may or may not be able to withstand the competition that will be coming form Asia.” DePew wanted DOE instead to invest in “more forward companies that have demonstrably better technology and better performance but maybe not as connected or at the same level of development.”

General Motors will receive more than $240 million in grants; Ford will receive nearly $100 million; and Chrysler will get $70 million. US-based auto battery maker, Johnson Controls, the single largest recipient, will receive $299.2 million for production of its lithium ion battery packs.

Grants were also provided to educational institutions—a dozen universities and colleges—to demonstrate electric-drive technology, to train the next generation of engineers, and to increase consumer awareness of plug-in hybrids, electric cars, and fuel-cell vehicles. (Full disclosure: HybridCars.com was a partner with public television in an unsuccessful application for funds for consumer education.)

CalCars, a California-based plug-in hybrid advocacy organization, was a partner in several applications that were not selected"