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

By: Shawn Wright, Automotive News — March 30, 2010

DETROIT — Coda Automotive, a California battery systems manufacturer and fledgling electric-car maker, and joint venture partner Lishen Power Battery said today that they have secured $394 million of investment and lines of credit.

The money will help quicken development of the car’s power system for volume production and support the automaker’s ability to manufacture battery systems for transportation and utility power storage, Coda and Lishen said a statement. Read the rest of this entry →