GM partners with EPRI to evaluate recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles
07/22/2008, 12:17 PM
By Drew Johnson
General Motors announced on Monday that it has teamed with Electric Power Research Institute – an organization representing the nation’s utilities – to ready the U.S.’ electric infrastructure for the launch of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The partnership will look at several issues, but will focus on infrastructure for public charging stations. “The issue is going to be how many consumers have plugs in the right places in their garage?,” GM’s manager of hydrogen and electrical infrastructure commercialization, Britta Gross, told Automotive News. “How many people don’t even have garages? We have to have a public charging infrastructure put in place and a strategy for that with corporations and municipalities.”
EPRI teamed with Ford on a similar initiative earlier this year, but Gross says GM has no current plans to team with other automakers on plug-in hybrid technology. GM hopes to be the first to market with a plug-in hybrid in the form of the 2010 Chevrolet Volt.
07/22, 12:24 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Great… just what we need. Hey… let’s all use more electricity! The power grid in the USA is outdated and overworked as it is… there are many places where it nears capacity every day. Now we are all going to start plugging our cars in too. It isn’t going to save anyone anything… or save the planet. The vast majority of electric power in the US is made by coal or natural gas burning power plants. Coal is dirty and outdated, and natural gas prices are tied directly to petrolium prices (outrageous)… so how is this going to help us at all?
07/22, 1:10 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
They must be expecting the Volt to just fly out of the lots like they are going out of style. That’s a pretty bold statement, in my opinion.
“The issue is going to be how many consumers have plugs in the right places in their garage?,”
I do, and most people I know do as well. Nice punctuation by the way. Commas do not follow question marks at the end of a question quote.
“How many people don’t even have garages? We have to have a public charging infrastructure put in place and a strategy for that with corporations and municipalities.”
1) I doubt there will be so many Volts sold that people will be scrambling to find outlets. This is a $40,000 car, not a $200 cellphone.
2) In my town, if you don’t have a garage, you can’t afford a Volt.
3) If you don’t have a garage, and you actually can afford a Volt, do you have to leave it plugged in all the time? Doesn’t the gas engine recharge the batteries? It’s not an EV, but a hybrid with a bit of help.
4) My employer is not going to pay for the charging of my car. However, a hotel or a restaurant with an outlet in the parking lot might be a good idea.
07/22, 2:18 PM
posted by:
xyunya
I thought electrical chair is outlawed as cruel and unusual….
07/22, 2:24 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Maybe, Xyunya, but I think your sense of humor is about to suffer the same fate.
07/22, 3:15 PM
posted by:
jonmiles
Even though our current sources of electric power leave much to be desired, this in itself will push companies to do something about it.
07/22, 3:18 PM
posted by:
Random Jerk
Carbon atom for carbon atom, A modern coal plant is cleaner and more efficient then an ICE, it’s that simple. Where is it easier to control emissions.. millions of tail pipes, or a handful of generating stations?
07/22, 5:20 PM
posted by:
agraham1
I am part of a campaign aimed at General Motors to become Green Motors and become a hybrid/electric car manufacturer. Check it out here: http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/save-general-motors-and-the-planet-at-the-same-time
General Motors is falling apart, losing billions, and in jeopardy of going out of business. If we can convince them that there is a viable market for them taking drastic action to convert their cars and trucks to being the most environmentally efficient in the world, they have nothing to lose by unconditionally embracing the green movement.