US buys first electric cars, charging stations

US buys first electric cars, charging stations

AP – Tue May 24, 5:35 pm ET

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WASHINGTON – The Obama administration said Tuesday it is buying more than 100 Chevrolet Volts and other electric cars as it moves to improve fuel efficiency of the government's massive fleet of cars and trucks.

The plan by the General Services Administration to buy 116 plug-in electric cars marks the government's first purchase of road-ready electric vehicles, a GSA spokeswoman said.

The cars represent a tiny fraction of the 600,000 vehicles the GSA manages. But Energy Secretary Steven Chu and other officials said they were an important symbol of the administration's commitment to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.