Plug in hybrids are starting to get some legislative traction. An amendment to the energy bill signed on August 8, 2005, requested by Senator Barack Obama will provide $40 million in federal research grants over the next 5 years to develop plug in hybrids/flexible fuel vehicles.

In Pennsylvania, State Rep. Mark Cohen has proposed three pieces of legislation to spur the development and use of plug-in electric hybrids in the Pennsylvania, exempting sales tax on the conversion of existing hybrids to plug-in hybrids, establishing a state task force to examine how this technology can be promoted, and a resolution asking car makers with plants in the U.S. to market plug-in hybrids here.