As of now the only car that Fisker has announced is the Karma.  At $80,000+ I wouldn’t call that exactly affordable.  So Fisker is going to have to produce another, cheaper car.  And that’s exactly what they state they’re going to do.  The majority of the loan will go to developing a plugin hybrid in the same vein as the Karma or the Chevy Volt that will cost just under $40,000.

“This conditional loan represents a significant step in America’s future,” said Henrik Fisker, CEO. “With it Fisker Automotive can rapidly develop affordable clean cars that satisfy our passion for driving and help restore the U.S. as an auto industry leader.”

Fisker says that the loan will save or create 5,000 jobs in the US.

The network will consist of 17 new stations along major highways from Florida to Washington D.C.  Drivers using I-95, I-10, and I-85 will be able to use a propane fueled car because there are refueling stations on their route.

The project, which will cost a total of $28 million, includes many private investors like Red Top Cab and ABS Vans.  In addition to new refueling stations the project will help convert a number of public service vehicles to propane, which is a cleaner burning fuel than diesel or gasoline.

Phoenix-based Electric Transportation and its Scottsdale-based parent company ECOtality were expected to announce Wednesday morning that they will receive the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund a network of charging stations for electric vehicles. More

Johnson Controls, based in Milwaukee, WI has been awarded the largest single grant from the DOE at almost $300 million.  Johnson intends to make advanced batteries for EVs and hybrids.  The $299 million is almost half of the $600 million Johnson expects to invest in the new battery technology.

awarded Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation (Smith) a $10 million grant toward the production of all-electric, zero emissions commercial trucks for a nationwide demonstration project to validate performance across a range of climates and locations.

The grant will help to hasten vehicle purchasing and deployment among Smith’s customers as the government provides incentives to reduce the cost of commercial vehicles. The trucks will be purchased by and distributed to customers nationwide, including AT&T, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Frito-Lay, Kansas City Power & Light, Pacific Gas & Electric Company and Staples, which were presented with the keys to the first U.S. Smith Newtons last week in an event on the National Mall.

To produce its new electric vehicle fleet, Smith has already announced the imminent opening of a new production facility in Kansas City. The grant will contribute toward new equipment and accelerate hiring plans for “green collar” manufacturing employees. More