Report Shows How Automakers, Fuel Providers, Consumers & Government Are Working for Energy Security

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers today issued a new report documenting its members' active roles in helping the United States achieve energy security through greater production of alternative fuel autos, new partnerships with fuel providers to expand the fueling infrastructure, and working with governments to get more such vehicles on the road.

"Discover The Alternatives: A Progress Report On Enhancing Energy Security" details how automakers, energy producers, policy-makers, researchers, businesses and consumers are all contributing to the solution.

"Achieving our national goal of energy security requires action from automakers, and we're proud that the number of alternative fuel models on sale today is 400 percent greater than it was in 2000," said Alliance President & CEO Fred Webber. "Automakers are pleased to offer 46 different alternative fuel autos on dealer lots today, with 35 more models coming soon. In 2006 alone, we will produce more than 1 million vehicles capable of running on alternative fuels."

The report documents that there are now 8 million alternative fuel autos on U.S. roads, including 3.8 million ethanol-capable autos, 3.6 million diesel vehicles and 280,000 hybrids.

The new study also shows that investments in ethanol and biofuels are increasing at a fast pace, including an expanding network of biorefineries. Additionally, new clean diesel is being made more available to the public at retail fueling stations across the country.

The auto industry continues to invest heavily in longer-term solutions such as hydrogen and fuel cells, and the first hydrogen autos will be on the road by the end of 2006. Automakers invested $39 billion globally on research and development in 2005.

More consumers than ever are considering buying an alternative fuel auto, and the public rates fuel efficiency as a far more important decision factor in vehicle purchase than only a few years ago. Half of the states have enacted consumer incentives to encourage consumers to buy such autos, and the 2005 Energy Bill included tax incentives for consumers buying certain alternative fuel vehicles.

Alternative Powered Cars - Read the complete report, CLICK HERE.