On the road, Obama eagerly promotes electric cars

[November 20, 2010]  LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- President Barack Obama took a break from NATO meetings in Portugal and spent time on what's become one of his favorite activities -- promoting electric cars.

After attending a meeting Saturday on Afghanistan, Obama checked out an Opel Ampera on display at the summit site. The electric vehicle is made by General Motors at a plant in Detroit and will start going on sale in Europe next year.

Obama slid into the driver's seat and turned the car on. He noted how quiet it was and told reporters that the electric car "is the future."

Obama has made growth of a U.S.-based electric car battery industry a centerpiece of his economic and clean energy agenda. He has pledged to bring 1 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to U.S. roads by 2015.

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Online:

Opel Ampera: http://www.opel-ampera.com/

[Associated Press; By JULIE PACE]

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