Buyers of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf would be eligible for a $10,000 federal tax credit in some cities under a $10 billion Senate plan to boost electric vehicles.  House and Senate members have released similar plans intended to make electric vehicles  more than niche models.

The House version would spend $6.6 billion, dedicating $800 million to five “deployment communities” to speed 700,000 plug-in vehicles into use and establish recharging networks. A Senate version would spend about $10 billion and grant $250 million to up to 15 communities.

Reported by David Shepardson of  The Detroit News

General Motors unveiled a new electric concept car in China, aiming to bolster its image as a supplier of non-polluting cars tailored to the crowded mega-cities of the future.  GM showcased the EN-V, short for “Electric Networked-Vehicle,” in China with its joint venture partner, SAIC Motor Corp.  It will be shown during the World Expo to be held in Shanghai from May through October.

The two-seater EN-V, which would communicate with other cars to help avoid accidents and ease traffic in congested major cities like Shanghai, is only at the conceptual stage — it would not hit showrooms for another 10 to 20 years, and would require regulatory changes for it to be allowed on roads.

Detroit Auto Show: An electric cavalcade

With federal mileage standards rising, automakers next week will show a fresh group of fuel-efficient vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Ford will unveil the redesigned production Focus, and Honda will show the production version of the CR-Z hybrid hatchback. Toyota and Volkswagen will roll out hybrid concepts; Audi, BMW and Fiat will display electric concepts.

Show organizers are arranging various electric cars, including one from China’s BYD Auto, in a space on the show floor called Electric Avenue. But high performance will get its due. Judging by vehicles at the show, performance cars and econoboxes will coexist happily in the 2016 model year, when automakers must reach fleet averages of 35.5 mpg.

At the Detroit show, Cadillac will unveil the high-performance CTS-V coupe, and Buick will show a performance sedan concept. General Motors and Chrysler Group may have replenished treasuries after surviving U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 2009, but their fresh resolve won’t be fully reflected on the show floor. Both automakers have modest unveilings. GM will have one production car: the CTS-V. Chrysler will have none. But Chrysler and partner Fiat are showing some concepts that explore their product planners’ ideas for the next few years. They will show a concept version of the Lancia Delta mid-sized hatchback with a Chrysler grille. They also will show an electric concept of the Fiat 500 minicar.

By: Charles Child – Automotive News