GM Chief Calls for Help from Washington to Grow Alternative Fuel Technologies

During a speech Tuesday night at the Automotive News World Congress in Dearborn, MI, General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner called on Washington to "promote energy diversity" by "proactively" supporting the development of alternative fuel technology and "incentiviz[ing] consumers through tax credits, fuel subsidies and so on to adopt these exciting new technologies." Wagoner said GM will push lawmakers to continue supporting the development of ethanol as an alternative to gasoline. According to the Detroit News, GM's chief said many government officials have shown interest in GM's Chevrolet Volt concept, recently unveiled at the Detroit auto show – GM; however, has yet to develop the batteries needed to run the Volt. CEOs from GM, Ford and Chrysler have been pushing the Bush administration to help with efforts to develop alternative fuels such as ethanol-based E85 and biodiesel. Last week, the automakers asked for federal help in developing batteries sufficient to power vehicles.