EVs good for U.S. energy security

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LOS ANGELES, May 16 (UPI) -- American investments in the infrastructure needed to put more electric cars on the road will help reduce oil imports substantially, an official said.

U.S. President Barack Obama has set a goal of putting more than 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

The U.S. Department of Energy said it has invested more than $5 million to encourage the industry's growth since 2009. Eight projects included under an economic stimulus package would make more than 22,000 charging stations available by December 2013.

"Building energy-saving electric cars and trucks, and the infrastructure to power them, will help Americans save money at the pump and improve the nation's energy security," said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a statement.

Chu was making his announcement at a Los Angeles event coinciding with the installation of the 500th electric vehicle charger by Coulomb Technologies, which received $15 million in U.S. stimulus funds.