As Congress looks at ways to revive the auto industry, car makers from around the world are here in D-C to show off their latest innovations.

Jessica Forres got behind the wheel of one of the "Green" rides.



NAT: DOOR SHUT]
-TURN THE KEY TO ON
-HOW DO YOU DO IT?
-OH
- THAT'S IT, THAT WAS IT, THOSE COUPLE CLICKS, IT'S ON
- IT'S ON?
-IT'S ON

Silence…that's what you hear when you turn the ignition key of the Ford Focus. That's because it's fueled by electricity. Bob Storc is with Magna…the company that manufactures the electric battery for the car.

Outside, he points to the gas cap.

INSTEAD OF A GAS CAP WE HAVE A PLUG. YOU JUST PULL OFF A RUBBER BOOT
-HOOK IN A PLUG AND YOU'RE READY TO GO.

Ready to go a hundred miles after charging it for ten to twelve hours. Storc expects the car to hit the market in 2011.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO FORD FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THINGS GOT VERY SERIOUS IN AUGUST WHEN WE SHOWED THEM THIS CAR.

The Ford Electric Focus is one of 8-hundred vehicles on display at the Convention Center for the Washington Auto Show. Bob Yoffe is the Show's Director.

MOST OF THE AUTOMOBILES THAT ARE IN THE SHOW RIGHT NOW ARE CARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME AND THERE ARE MANY PROTOTYPES AND CONCEPT CARS THAT ARE HERE AS WELL.

Several top officials in President Obama's administration are expected to tour the Auto Show this week, which runs until Sunday.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

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Automakers from around the world are in Washington to show off their new products...and commitment to building "Green Cars."

Jessica Forres reports…

More than 7-hundred automobiles are parked inside the Washington Convention Center…taking up 750-thousand square feet of exhibit space. They are on display for the Washington Auto Show…an annual event that started in 1921. Bob Yoffe is the Show's Director.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AUTO MANUFACTURERS FOR A GOOD TWELVE MONTHS FROM THE LAST SHOW TO THIS SHOW TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE HERE TO PARTICIPATE WITH ALL THEIR LATEST PRODUCTS, THE NEWEST PRODUCTS, THE GREEN PRODUCTS, SO THEY CAN HELP SHOWCASE THEM TO THE PUBLIC.

But some of the 42 manufacturers present are mostly concerned with showing off their Green Products...

The Ford Electric Focus and the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid, are two innovations on display. We test-drove the Ford Focus, a battery-electric vehicle expected to hit the market in 2011. .

Bob Storc is in the passenger seat. His company…Magna….manufactures the electric battery for Ford.

[NAT: DOOR SHUT]
-TURN THE KEY TO ON
-HOW DO YOU DO IT?
-OH
- THAT'S IT, THAT WAS IT, THOSE COUPLE CLICKS, IT'S ON
- IT'S ON?
-IT'S ON

Storc says the car can travel a hundred miles after it charges for about 10 hours.

IT'S A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR A CONGESTED CITY WHERE YOU WANT ZERO EMISSIONS.

The Auto Show starts tomorrow and will run until Sunday.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News