WASHINGTON - In a new report, a blue-ribbon panel says the United States is unlikely to meet President Barack Obama's goal of getting 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 — a finding disputed by at least one environmental group, The Detroit News reported.
The Indiana University panel says the government will have to take further steps to boost the young industry.
"The production intentions of automakers are currently insufficient to meet the 2015 goal, and even the current plans for production volume may not be met," the report released Wednesday said.
Roland Hwang of the National Resources Defense Council's Transportation Program counters that 1 million vehicles is achievable and notes some forecasts suggest reaching the goal remains possible.
Even so, 1 million electric vehicles would account for just a third of a percent of all U.S. vehicles, at best, by 2015.
The United States has more than 250 million cars and trucks on the roads and less than 5,000 electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles in use.
Hybrid sales still account for less than 3 percent of U.S. auto sales, and the government on Dec. 31 let tax incentives expire for gasoline-electric hybrids.
Since launching sales about two months ago, General Motors Co. has sold 650 plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volts, and Nissan Motor Co. has sold about 100 electric Leaf vehicles.
The report called for a national demonstration program of electric vehicles, including focusing on a limited number of communities — five to 20 — to help ramp up infrastructure.
The White House proposed last week to nearly double the Energy Department's vehicle research budget to $590 million; $200 million would be used to award up to $10 million to as many as 30 communities to ramp up electric vehicle infrastructure.
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