EPRI Collaboration
“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,”
- Jon Lauckner, GM's vice president of global program management
During the Plug-In 2008 conference in San Jose, GMs VP for Global Program Management, Jonathan Lauckner announced the automaker is teaming up with Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) and 34+ utility companies to facilitate integration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the grid, a key step in providing U.S. drivers an alternative to petroleum fuels. The announcement had the conference buzzing as everyone who attended expects it to help spur the adoption of PHEVs and ensure a smooth transition to the safe use of electricity as fuel.
Utility participants in the collaboration include: Alabama Power, American Electric Power, Austin Energy, BC Hydro, CenterPoint Energy, Consolidated Edison of New York, Dominion, DTE Energy, Duke Energy, FirstEnergy Corp., Georgia Power, Great River Energy, Hydro-Quebec, Manitoba Hydro, Nebraska Public Power District, New York Power Authority, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Progress Energy, Public Service Electric & Gas Co., Sacramento Municipal Util. Dist., San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison Co. and Southern Company.
Listen to Efrain Órnelas, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) environmental technical supervisor, discuss some of the workstreams associated with the adoption of the electric infrastructure (public policy, advance vehicle technology, customer education and customer fulfillment) and the utilities' role in developing and spurring electric drive technology.
So what's next?
Plug-In 2008 in San Jose, California
Video Courtesy of General Motors Corporation
Currently, GM doesn't have any production plug-in vehicles, but will debut two different models in the next two years. A plug-in version of the Saturn VUE Two-Mode hybrid is expected to debut in late 2009 while the Chevy Volt E-REV (extended-range electric vehicle) will appear a year later.
'Plug-In 2008: More than 650 attendees, 120 exhibit staff and over 100 media converged on San Jose, California in July, 2008 for the inaugural gathering of vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure and component suppliers, government agencies, universities and other key industry stakeholders.
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