WASHINGTON, D.C. — Executives from three major automakers will gather this month in a conference to discuss how federal environmental mandates will continue to push the drive toward more electric and hybrid vehicles.

Scheduled to take part in the third annual Green Car Summit are Stefan Jacoby, chief executive officer of Volkswagen Group of America, along with executives from Ford and Nissan. The Washington Auto Show and Green Car Journal will host the event that brings together lawmakers with industry leaders and environmental experts on Jan. 25.

Nancy Gioia, who is director of global electrification at Ford, and Scott Becker, a senior vice president at Nissan North America, also are expected to share their perspectives on this topic.

Also expected to take part in summit discussions are Alan Lloyd, president of the International Council on Clean Transportation; Brian Wynne, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association; Kevin Czinger, president and CEO of CODA Automotive; and Sidney Goodman, vice president at Better Place.

Event organizers stress that Green Car Summit's strategic location on Capitol Hill facilitates reaching key members of Congress and their staff along with high-level government and industry officials and prominent members of the Washington media circuit.

"We are at a critical time in the history of the motor vehicle, with decisions made today influencing the direction of the auto industry for many years to come," explained Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com.

"While there is significant support in Washington for a new generation of vehicles operating on electric drive and low carbon fuels, and growing evidence that auto manufacturers are moving in that direction, important questions remain regarding how to get there in realistic ways," Cogan concluded.