Bayh: Indiana Is "Silicon Valley of Next-Generation Vehicles"
Congressional Desk
August 06, 2009
Bayh heralds $400 million to create thousands of Hoosier jobs; says Indiana will lead national push to design, build clean-energy cars
Wakarusa, Indiana – Senator Evan Bayh returned to Elkhart County with President Barack Obama to announce more than $400 million for Indiana companies developing next-generation automotive components and advanced-vehicle batteries.
"Today, Indiana starts a new engine of economic growth for our state and job creation for our people," Bayh said. "This announcement has been many years in the making. The fight for this funding—and the thousands of jobs that will come with it—has been one of the most critical fights I have waged since I was re-elected to the Senate. This major federal investment is going to put Hoosiers back to work in communities across the state. It will ensure that thousands of Indiana workers are on the front lines of making the fuel-efficient vehicles of tomorrow."
Bayh, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has aggressively fought since 2005 to enact legislation to spur advanced-vehicle innovation and speed the electrification of the American transportation sector.
Bayh traveled from Washington with President Obama to the Monaco Coach plant in Wakarusa to announce more than $400 million of economic recovery funding for Indiana. The funding will be directly reinvested in Indiana companies to increase production and manufacturing capacity, deploy advanced battery electric vehicles, develop electric charging infrastructure, and train workers.
China has adopted an aggressive plan aimed at becoming one of the leading producers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles within three years. This commitment from the Chinese government comes as countries in Asia have already dedicated vast resources to build and support these industries. The United States invented the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and the lithium-ion battery. But Asia now manufacturers the vast majority of lithium-ion batteries, and a Chinese automaker recently rolled out the first mass-produced PHEV.
"Hoosiers have no intention of letting China speed out of the starting gate and win the race to power our clean-vehicles of the future," Bayh said. "Indiana companies will lead the national drive to move the auto industry away from oil; increase our energy security; and create a cleaner, more livable planet. Today, it is official: Indiana has become the Silicon Valley of next-generation vehicles."
Below is a list of companies selected for funding (Recipient/ Location/ Purpose/ Amount):
EnerDel, Inc./ Indianapolis, IN/ Production of lithium-ion cells and packs for hybrid and electric vehicles./$118,500,000
Remy, Inc./ Anderson, IN; Morristown, IN; Greenfield, IN; Indianapolis, IN/ Establishing a standardized platform of hybrid electric motors and controls./ $60,200,000
Magna E-Car Systems of America, Inc./ Muncie, IN/ Increasing production capacity of advanced automotive electric-drive system component manufacturing plants located in the U.S./ $40,000,000
Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC/ Kokomo, IN/ Expansion of manufacturing for existing electric-drive power electronics components for both passenger and commercial vehicles./ $89,300,000
Allison Transmission, Inc./ Indianapolis, IN/ Increasing U.S. capacity to manufacture hybrid systems for the commercial truck market./ $62,800,000
Navistar, Inc./ Elkhart, IN/ Develop, validate, and deploy 400 advanced battery electric delivery trucks with a 100 mile range./ $39,200,000
Purdue University/ West Lafayette, IN/ Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Education Program/ $6,100,000
TOTAL: $416,100,000
Senator Bayh´s Record on Advanced Vehicles
● In 2005, Bayh was the lone Senate cosponsor of then-Senator Obama´s amendment to create a plug-in hybrid initiative to jumpstart the development of cars that get 250 miles per gallon. This was the first plug-in hybrid proposal ever introduced in the United States Senate.
● In 2007, Bayh introduced the first comprehensive plug-in hybrid bill as part of his bipartisan DRIVE Act legislation. Congress enacted into law Bayh provisions to provide incentives for domestic manufacturers to refurbish their facilities to produce advanced technology vehicles. He also pushed through a requirement for federal fleets to reduce their petroleum use by 20 percent by 2015, and provisions allowing federal agencies to purchase electric-drive vehicles.
● In 2008, Bayh urged President George W. Bush´s energy secretary to include advance-vehicle funding in his final budget.
● In 2008, Bayh initiated a letter to Senate leaders asking for funding for electric drive vehicles and batteries in the FY09 appropriations bill and called on Congress to include full funding of next-generation vehicles and battery components in the economic stimulus package.
At the time, Bayh said, "For a fraction of what the federal government has spent to bail out Wall Street, we can create the next generation of high-mileage vehicles, and Indiana can lead the way with cutting-edge technology being made right here within our borders. Our state can help America move past Band-Aid solutions and help ensure the long-term viability of the domestic automobile industry."
● In 2009, Bayh helped secure $2 billion for advanced-battery technology in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
CEO Larry Dewey of Allison Transmission, one of the grant recipients, said, "We are grateful for Senator Bayh´s vigorous and active support for Allison´s grant application. Senator Bayh has for many years been a tireless advocate for Hoosier manufacturers, and this is just the latest example of him delivering for the state. This grant will mean more jobs in Indiana, new products and improved environmental performance for Allison´s transmissions and its customers."
Wakarusa, Indiana – Senator Evan Bayh returned to Elkhart County with President Barack Obama to announce more than $400 million for Indiana companies developing next-generation automotive components and advanced-vehicle batteries.
"Today, Indiana starts a new engine of economic growth for our state and job creation for our people," Bayh said. "This announcement has been many years in the making. The fight for this funding—and the thousands of jobs that will come with it—has been one of the most critical fights I have waged since I was re-elected to the Senate. This major federal investment is going to put Hoosiers back to work in communities across the state. It will ensure that thousands of Indiana workers are on the front lines of making the fuel-efficient vehicles of tomorrow."
Bayh, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has aggressively fought since 2005 to enact legislation to spur advanced-vehicle innovation and speed the electrification of the American transportation sector.
Bayh traveled from Washington with President Obama to the Monaco Coach plant in Wakarusa to announce more than $400 million of economic recovery funding for Indiana. The funding will be directly reinvested in Indiana companies to increase production and manufacturing capacity, deploy advanced battery electric vehicles, develop electric charging infrastructure, and train workers.
China has adopted an aggressive plan aimed at becoming one of the leading producers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles within three years. This commitment from the Chinese government comes as countries in Asia have already dedicated vast resources to build and support these industries. The United States invented the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and the lithium-ion battery. But Asia now manufacturers the vast majority of lithium-ion batteries, and a Chinese automaker recently rolled out the first mass-produced PHEV.
"Hoosiers have no intention of letting China speed out of the starting gate and win the race to power our clean-vehicles of the future," Bayh said. "Indiana companies will lead the national drive to move the auto industry away from oil; increase our energy security; and create a cleaner, more livable planet. Today, it is official: Indiana has become the Silicon Valley of next-generation vehicles."
Below is a list of companies selected for funding (Recipient/ Location/ Purpose/ Amount):
EnerDel, Inc./ Indianapolis, IN/ Production of lithium-ion cells and packs for hybrid and electric vehicles./$118,500,000
Remy, Inc./ Anderson, IN; Morristown, IN; Greenfield, IN; Indianapolis, IN/ Establishing a standardized platform of hybrid electric motors and controls./ $60,200,000
Magna E-Car Systems of America, Inc./ Muncie, IN/ Increasing production capacity of advanced automotive electric-drive system component manufacturing plants located in the U.S./ $40,000,000
Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC/ Kokomo, IN/ Expansion of manufacturing for existing electric-drive power electronics components for both passenger and commercial vehicles./ $89,300,000
Allison Transmission, Inc./ Indianapolis, IN/ Increasing U.S. capacity to manufacture hybrid systems for the commercial truck market./ $62,800,000
Navistar, Inc./ Elkhart, IN/ Develop, validate, and deploy 400 advanced battery electric delivery trucks with a 100 mile range./ $39,200,000
Purdue University/ West Lafayette, IN/ Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Education Program/ $6,100,000
TOTAL: $416,100,000
Senator Bayh´s Record on Advanced Vehicles
● In 2005, Bayh was the lone Senate cosponsor of then-Senator Obama´s amendment to create a plug-in hybrid initiative to jumpstart the development of cars that get 250 miles per gallon. This was the first plug-in hybrid proposal ever introduced in the United States Senate.
● In 2007, Bayh introduced the first comprehensive plug-in hybrid bill as part of his bipartisan DRIVE Act legislation. Congress enacted into law Bayh provisions to provide incentives for domestic manufacturers to refurbish their facilities to produce advanced technology vehicles. He also pushed through a requirement for federal fleets to reduce their petroleum use by 20 percent by 2015, and provisions allowing federal agencies to purchase electric-drive vehicles.
● In 2008, Bayh urged President George W. Bush´s energy secretary to include advance-vehicle funding in his final budget.
● In 2008, Bayh initiated a letter to Senate leaders asking for funding for electric drive vehicles and batteries in the FY09 appropriations bill and called on Congress to include full funding of next-generation vehicles and battery components in the economic stimulus package.
At the time, Bayh said, "For a fraction of what the federal government has spent to bail out Wall Street, we can create the next generation of high-mileage vehicles, and Indiana can lead the way with cutting-edge technology being made right here within our borders. Our state can help America move past Band-Aid solutions and help ensure the long-term viability of the domestic automobile industry."
● In 2009, Bayh helped secure $2 billion for advanced-battery technology in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
CEO Larry Dewey of Allison Transmission, one of the grant recipients, said, "We are grateful for Senator Bayh´s vigorous and active support for Allison´s grant application. Senator Bayh has for many years been a tireless advocate for Hoosier manufacturers, and this is just the latest example of him delivering for the state. This grant will mean more jobs in Indiana, new products and improved environmental performance for Allison´s transmissions and its customers."