Oregon Public Broadcasting

The federal government has announced $2.4 billion in stimulus money grants to develop the batteries and charging stations for electric cars. Three Oregon companies were selected for grants, as Barbara Leidl reports.

Nearly $300 million go to Entek International of Lebanon and its partner, Wisconsin-based Johnson Controls.

Their goal is to make a new lithium battery --  similar to the ones used in cell phones -- but suitable for the next generation of electric cars. Rick Pekala is with Entek.

Rick Pekala: "With this money it will really allow us to accelerate, taking it from the R&Dlab to a manufacturing scale."

He estimates that about 20 new jobs will be created.

A Coburg non-profit called Cascade Sierra Solutions stands to receive $22 million.  It will install electric plugs at 50 truckstops nationwide so drivers can use heat and watch TV overnight without idling their diesel engines.

 A third company, EnerG2, got $21 million.  All the grants require the companies to match the federal funds.