News bites: Energy Department-backed automaker struggles

The New York Times reports on the struggles of Fisker Automotive, an Energy Department-backed company seeking to manufacture electric cars in the United States.

“After several setbacks — including defective battery packs in its first model and the Energy Department’s decision last year to suspend loans to the company — Fisker is desperately trying to re-establish its credibility as an independent automaker with cutting-edge technology,” the Times reports.

The Wall Street Journal looks at the company here.

The paper reports that new chief executive Tom LaSorda “said the luxury electric-vehicle company is looking at alternatives to building its second model in a former General Motors Co. plant in Delaware, raising the possibility of abandoning a plan that had financial backing from the Obama administration.”

Reuters examines the uncertain future facing Japanese power companies after last year’s nuclear disaster.

Bloomberg reports that Chevron and Transocean are being sued for $22 billion in environmental damages for spilling oil off the coast of Brazil.