WASHINGTON, May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy said it teamed up with auto, energy and electric companies to spur the development of cleaner and more efficient cars and trucks.
The department unveiled a program dubbed U.S. Drive, a program that partners the government with industry leaders to help develop cleaner and more energy-efficient cars and lights trucks as well as the infrastructure necessary to encourage their use.
"Government-industry partnerships like U.S. Drive can quicken the pace at which affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles reach and succeed in the commercial market," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
Partners include the so-called Big Three U.S. automotive giants -- Chrysler, Ford and General Motors -- as well as Tesla Motors. Energy companies including BP, Chevron and other U.S. supermajors will join some of the largest utility companies in the country in the Department of Energy project.
The partners envision work on batteries, electric-drive components and hydrogen technology as part of a collaborative automotive effort.
"By bringing together the best and brightest in government and the automobile, electric utility, and fuels industries, we can develop promising, innovative technologies that move rapidly from the lab into cars on the road, along with the infrastructure to support them," Chu said.
