The president toured an electric car factory near Los Angeles, and said the government will make more than 2 billion dollars available to American companies to produce electric vehicles and batteries.

VOA: standard.2009.03.20

Already, American car companies are producing electric vehicles that use little or no gas.

WHITEHOUSE: Weekly Address: Gas Prices & Energy Security

Without government subsidies, hybrid and electric vehicles are a hard sell for the average American consumer.

FORBES: Will China Subsidize Electric Vehicles?

The Chancellor and I discussed the need to eliminate regulations and barriers so we can unleash even more trade and investment, including in the area of electric vehicles, where both our countries are leaders and where the possibilities of American-German cooperation are enormous.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama and Chancellor Merkel Press Conference