The U.S. promotes electric vehicles: An energy department program is designed to encourage research and support experiments

On September 17, 1976, the U.S. Congress overrode a Presidential veto, thus giving birth to public law 94–413, the “Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1976.” The act authorizes a Federally funded program to promote electric and hybrid vehicle technologies and to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of electric and hybrid vehicles. And it calls for a two-part demonstration program under which 7500 such vehicles are to be placed in service on U.S. highways. In addition, a program of financial incentives involving planning grants and loan guarantees to vehicle manufacturers is to be implemented. Directing and monitoring this entire effort is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).