There are big opportunities for companies that can supply the auto industry with parts and technology to power electric cars.

That’s the exciting opportunity unveiled by President Obama during a visit to an electric vehicle maintenance center in California. The green component of Obama’s economic stimulus plan includes offering $2.4 billion in grants to those who can develop and improve technology to put the electric car on the road.

In this case, the electric car Obama’s talking about is the so-called “plug-in” hybrid design that allows businesses and consumers plug a car into an electric outlet to recharge the vehicle’s battery.

Obama wants to help fund development of the next generation of electric vehicles (EVs) that get up to 100 miles per gallon and can drive at least 40 miles on battery power before recharging.

Two more EV hopefuls made a splash for this market as part of this month’s Earth Day festivities: Bright Automotive, which wants to build a light-duty EV truck that gets 100 mpg, and Lee Motors, which hopes to supply conversion technology for Kia Motor’s entry into the EV market.

To get this part of the auto industry going, Obama has directed the Department of Energy to hand out:

• $1.5 billion in grants to produce U.S.-made high-efficiency batteries
• $500 million to U.S. producers working on electric motors and other parts for the plug-in vehicles, and
• $400 million for development of electric recharging infrastructure and training for technicians to build and repair electric vehicles.

The president’s goal is to put a million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015. To encourage consumers to purchase these vehicles, which will be pricey, Obama’s creating a tax credit of up to $7,500 for buying a plug-in hybrid.

The President announced details at Southern California’s Edison Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pamona. His speech is here.

California utilities have been testing alternative fuel vehicles for years, especially those powered by electric batteries and natural gas. California is also home to several small, start up companies working on developing electric vehicles.

Ford’s working with utilities to commercialize an electric-powered Escape and last year won a $10 million contract from the Department of Energy to develop better batteries. Click here for details.

Tags: electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, stimulus, tax credits