Yesterday the government announced the recipients of $2.4 billion in funding for the development of electric cars, advanced batteries, and electric vehicle infrastructure. President Obama had promised the money at an event at a Southern California electric vehicle technical center back in March. The funds will be made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the recipients were selected through a competitive process managed by the Department of Energy.

The biggest recipient was General Motors. GM will receive a total of $241 million to build battery packs for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle, as well as a factory for its next-generation electric drive technology.

Ford received $130 million to build plug-in electric vehicles, including the upcoming Escape hybrid and battery-electric Focus. Funds will also be spent on building transaxles for electric vehicles and creating a program with power companies to develop a recharging infrastructure.

Chrysler will receive $73 million to build an initial group of electric minivans and trucks. 

Other recipients of the funding include battery makers A123, Compact Power, and Saft.

As part of the program, electric cars and charging stations will roll out in pilot cities across the country, including Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. The funding is part of $25 billion in economic stimulus money earmarked for promoting the transition to plug-in electric cars.

—Eric Evarts