detroit back 2008 gas price average nearly gallon president barack obama set goal get one million plug-in electric vehicles roads 2015. since administration back billions dollars ev subsidies consumers industry yet today gas price near gallon 400,000 electric cars sell last year sales fell percent previous year 115,000 despite industry offer 30 plug-in model often deep discount challenge part backdrop obama wednesday visit detroit expect discuss state auto industry despite slow plug-in sales industry continue roll new model response government mandate desire create brand know environmental innovation detroit auto show last week general motor co gm.n show new electric bolt ev ford motor co f.n unveil new plug-in version ford fusion fiat chrysler automobile nv fcha.mi unveil first plug-in hybrid version new pacifica minivan ford ceo mark field say last week evs difficult sell gallon plug-in vehicles account few percent 17.4 million cars truck sell last year accord data hybridcars.com baum associate michigan-based market research firm include sales mainstream gas-electric hybrids toyota prius hybrid sales also fell last year 15 percent 384,000 comprise 2.2 percent vehicle sales state union address last week obama specifically address electric vehicles say get accelerate transition away old dirty energy source main obstacles electric vehicles high cost short drive range chevy bolt promise breakthrough front 200-mile range price start 30,000 government incentives still steep buy-in compare increasingly efficient gasoline-powered economy cars sell less 20,000 gasoline gallon consumers would amortize cost electric vehicle pretty quickly say former gm vice chairman bob lutz head development original chevy volt pioneer plug-in hybrid 1.50 gallon go will pay 8,000 10,000 premium palo-alto electric car maker tesla motor tsla.o garner praise make high-performance long-range sport sedans typically sell 100,000 travel 250 miles charge automakers struggle produce affordable car range long 100 miles green car advocate say evs crucial part effort reduce greenhouse gas emissions help wean unite state import oil long term argue oil price almost certain rise make electric cars viable industry move ahead ev development number reason many state lead california impose zero-emission vehicle mandate california set ambitious goal 1.5 million vehicles roads 2025. state account 40 percent electric car sales 120,000 31 million automobile california roads year ago zero-emission vehicles many automakers worry consumers perceive technologically backward build electric cars even yet sell large number industry also respond influx state federal cash relate mandate u.s. energy department award hundreds millions dollars low-cost loan spur electric vehicle manufacture company nissan motor co 7201.t tesla 2009 administration dedicate 2.4 billion 787 billion stimulus bill promote battery ev production consumers get federal tax credit 7,500 buy electric vehicles plug-in hybrids obama administration repeatedly propose boost credit 10,000 carlos ghosn ceo nissan saw sales electric leaf fall 43 percent 2015 tell reporters show automakers ramp ev offer increasingly strict government mandate everybody come conclusion way meet emission regulation future without sell zero-emission vehicles say go easy shift volkswagen ag vowg_p.de still reel diesel emissions crisis tout plan introduce 20 plug-in vehicles 2020. gm chairman ceo mary barra say convince customers want evs gas price stay low forever long-term electrification part solution say show lutz former gm executive say automakers choice build government mandate say electric vehicles go cram market way cost make them electric vehicle sales fall far short obama goal