General Motors Corp. called on Congress to increase the fund
allocated to support the automotive industry's efforts to speed the
implementation of advanced technologies. The call is anchored on
discovering and promoting alternative fuel to wean the nation from
dependence on foreign oil.
The call is also triggered by the need to improve efficiency of the
vehicles. This need necessitates billions of dollars. This could also
force the automaker to produce smaller and lighter cars or make
hybrid counterparts of the production models. Eventually, GM is
expected to drop some of its inefficient market segments and models.
Outside the Senate hearing room, GM showed them the Chevrolet Volt, a
plug-in hybrid concept. Inside the hearing room, Beth Lowery, GM's
vice president for energy and environment, told the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee that the government should fund a major
effort to increase research and development in battery technology and
to support manufacturing of advanced batteries. "Government funding
should continue and expand development and demonstration of hydrogen
and fuel cells," she added....

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