$30 million earmarked for plug-in cars

WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. government plans to spend up to $30 million in the next three years on development of new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, officials said.

The Energy Department said the money will support three Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) demonstration and development projects being developed by General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Electric Co.

PHEVs are hybrid vehicles that can be driven in electric-only or hybrid modes and recharged from a standard electric outlet.

The goal is to create PHEVs capable of traveling up to 40 miles without recharging, which would satisfy 70 percent of average daily travel requirements in the United States, the agency said Thursday in a release.

The Energy Department said it wants PHEVs ready for market by 2016.