Midwest Hybrid Maker Says It's Time To OK Its Federal Loan

ROCHESTER HILLS -- A Michigan plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer is calling on Congressional and media critics to put their partisanship aside and heed President Obama's call to create American jobs and spur the development of alternative energy technology by swiftly processing its loan application under the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program – which Congress authorized in 2007.

"These loans enable automotive companies, established and start-ups alike, to lead America forward towards energy independence, better national security and an improved environment; creating  thousands of American jobs in the process," Bright Automotive COO Mike Donoughe said in a statement. "This is exactly what the president is calling for ... and Bright Automotive is ready, willing and able to answer that challenge for our country."

Bright Automotive is an Indiana and Michigan-based company developing the Bright Idea vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric commercial van that delivers unprecedented fuel economy and utility while significantly lowering the total cost of ownership.

Bright's technology is on the road and is being tested by the Department of Defense and other fleets.

The company reports it has anxious customers ready to buy its vehicles, with half of its customer base small businesses -- the growth engine of jobs in America -- which will save thousands of dollars per vehicle every year.

Many experts believe plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are the best opportunity going forward to thwart expensive and volatile oil prices that likely will exceed $100 a barrel for the foreseeable future, meaning $4-a-gallon gas at the pump nationwide sooner rather than later.

"Yes, we are about cleaner energy," said Donoughe. "But our belief is that 'you have to be green to be green' -- meaning it is not enough to be green environmentally, if you are not green economically. That is why it is crucially important that we are a smart play for businesses operating fleets of vehicles; from service professionals like Comcast and FedEx to your local plumber or florist."

A typical business fleet currently spends about $5,000 to $7,000 annually on gasoline per vehicle. The Bright Idea PHEV saves $4,000 to $5,000 in fuel costs annually. For a small business that has 15 trucks in its fleet, this is significant operational savings. For larger businesses with 100 vehicles or more, the savings can reach $1 million or more per year. For Federal and state government and public service fleets, totaling more than 400,000 vehicles with a target to be alternatively fueled in the next few years, it represents literally billions of dollars in fuel costs saved for taxpayers.

The Bright Idea vehicle will be developed in Rochester Hills, while its hybrid electric powertrain will be engineered in Anderson, Ind.  When production begins, it will be assembled at a plant in Indiana. These new operations will conservatively create more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs and will be 100 percent U.S.-based.

"Our business plan has been thoroughly vetted by the government since submission in December 2008 and we have received tremendous bipartisan support from legislators in Indiana, Michigan and across the country," said Donoughe. "That support has helped us get the ball into the red zone, but not yet into the end zone. Michigan Congressman John Dingell told the Detroit News there is an attempt being made by certain members of Congress to kill this program. That prospect could end our plan to build our vehicle and create great jobs in the heart of America."

Consistent with President Obama's call for action in his pre-State of the Union video, Donoughe argues these loans are exactly the type of investments our government should be making -- supporting companies like Bright Automotive in advancing proven technologies and creating good jobs to help small business owners improve their operations.

"They are doing it in Germany and China and elsewhere -- and we must do it in the United States to regain and retain our manufacturing base and competitive edge," said Donoughe.