General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced yesterday that it will collaborate with the nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which represents more than 30 of the largest electric utilities in the United States and Canada, to accelerate the introduction of plug-in electric vehicles.
GM will work with EPRI and the utility companies on everything from codes and standards to grid capability to ensure that when the automaker’s electic vehicle, called the Volt, goes to market, the infrastructure is ready.
Details of the alliance were announced today in San Jose during the Plug-In 2008 Conference.
Among the many things the coalition will address include ensuring safe and convenient vehicle charging, raising the public awareness and understanding of plug-in electric vehicles, and working with public policy leaders to enable a transition from petroleum to electricity as a fuel source.
"Together with EPRI and the utility companies, we can transform automotive transportation as we know it, and get our nation and the world past oil dependence–and heading toward a future that is electric," said Jon Lauckner, GM VP of Global Program Management.
Using electricity to power vehicles such as the Volt and the Vue Plug-in is attractive to GM because it can simultaneously reduce the industry’s dependence on petroleum and vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers will also see a tremendous benefit as the cost per equivalent mile of a vehicle powered by electricity is roughly one-fifth of the cost per mile when powered by gasoline, GM said.
The coalition of utility companies plays a critical role in developing universal technical standards that will facilitate ease of use and commercial feasibility of electric vehicles.
Arshad Mansoor, Vice President of EPRI’s Power Delivery & Utilization sector, said, "This collaboration is critical in the development of standards that will lead to the widespread use of electricity as a transportation fuel."
Last month, GM, along with EPRI, received a conditional award from the U.S. Department of Energy to create a plug-in demo program using the Saturn Vue.
In June, GM’s Board of Directors committed to production of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle–due in showrooms in late 2010. And, at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, GM announced its intention to produce a plug-in hybrid electric version of the Saturn Vue.
Given the huge potential vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid offers for fuel economy improvement, these programs have emerged as top priorities at GM.
"This coalition shares a vision of bringing plug in vehicles to market so we can accelerate the use of electricity as a substitute for gasoline," said Lauckner. "We are focused on creating affordable, highly desired vehicles that will take advantage of the grid–and providing accessible, reliable, convenient low cost electricity to plug-in customers. Collectively, we can realize all of the benefits of the plug-in revolution."
Ford EV’s Five Years Away
In related news, an executive of Ford Motor Co (NSYE: F) said the company is at least five years away from manufacturing substantial numbers of plug-in electric vehicles, according to a Reuters report.
"When we look at volumes, we’re clearly at least five years away from starting what I would call the ramp from very small volumes to substantial volumes," Nancy Gioia, Ford’s director of sustainable mobility technologies and hybrid vehicle programs, said in an interview.
Twenty plug-in versions of Ford’s Escape sport utility vehicles are currently undergoing testing, Gioia said.
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