ROCK DOWN TO ELECTRIC AVENUE

United States versus China Will the United States fall behind China in the race to develop advanced vehicles? China has announced plans to invest $17 billion in fuel economy, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric and fuel cell vehicles. The country plans to produce 5 million "new energy" vehicles and 15 million fuel efficient conventional vehicles by 2020. In comparison, the U.S. has devoted more than $10 billion in loans and grants to boost electric, batteries and other advanced vehicles and plans to award another $16 billion more. Who will come out ahead? The U.S. Energy Secretary Stephen Chu has warned that the U.S. could fall behind but is working hard to stay at the front.

ElekTrick Audis Audi has been hesitant to add hybrid and electric vehicles to its lineup in the past, but it it now looks like the company has plans to jump with both feet in for the coming years. The company has announced plans to offer a plug-in hybrid starting in 2014 and it will bring full-hybrid versions of the A8 and the Q5 to its lineup by the end of 2011 and the A6 by 2012. The company has ambitious plans to have five percent of their lineup electric. No doubt this is spurred by the new U.S. rules to have their fleet fuel economy reach 35.5 MPG by 2016 but whatever spurred it on, we're glad to see more and more alternative fuel vehicles enter the market.

E-trons from Proton Although we imagine they won't make it to U.S. shores, another automaker has announced plans to join the global hybrid car competition. Malaysia's national car maker Proton will start a pilot run of its hybrid fleet this coming January in advance of plans for mass production in 2012. Testing of prototypes began two months ago in Britain and the vehicles are being developed in cooperation with British technology partner Fraser-Nash Research Ltd and South Korea's LG. Ailis Aaron Wolf Hybrid Owners of America