As a result of record-high oil prices over the summer, carmakers were pressed to keep up with hybrid sales. Now, as oil prices fall, customers are not forgetting the pain they felt over the summer, and demand for hybrids is still high, the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported.

To keep up with demand, researchers at the Electric Power Research Institute in Tennessee are working with auto manufacturers to develop new technology. General Motors and Ford partnerships were previously announced and others are planned.

In order to charge electric cars, the power industry is being brought on board as well. The Tennessee Valley Authority is beginning a research and development partnership with Nissan to test electric vehicles under development by Nissan, and TVA is working with the EPRI.