The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) praised President Obama's proposed fiscal year 2012 budget, which asks for more funding for electric-drive research, development and deployment programs.

The Obama administration also is proposing a change to the existing plug-in electric-drive vehicle tax credit to enable consumers to get the value of the credit at the point of sale.

"EDTA commends the Obama administration for recognizing that in a highly constrained budget environment, it is even more critical that our federal investments reflect our nation's priorities," EDTA President Brian Wynne said. "Establishing alternatives to foreign-oil dependence is a top priority for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness, and domestically produced electricity can be a key alternative to oil.

"We particularly support the president's recommendations to increase investment in technology innovation, electric-drive vehicle and infrastructure deployment and to make it easier for consumers and businesses to buy electric-drive vehicles."

Wynne urged the administration to leverage "investment in the next wave of emerging electric-drive solutions."

"Fuel-cell vehicles will provide critical additional pathways in displacing oil with electricity," Wynne said. "We look forward to working with the administration and Congress to ensure that the public and private efforts to realize their potential can continue in a meaningful way."