GM Details Plans To Help Cities Prepare For Chevy Volt

Washington DC and San Francisco have been selected by GM as the two cities it believes are ready for the arrival of the Chevrolet Volt. GM is to work closely with both cities to ensure a smooth rollout of its plug-in hybrid when it is finally released to market.

For cities not yet on the Volt bandwagon, GM has outlined its plans to help them prepare. These include details on implementing a suitable charging infrastructure, setting appropriate (and appealing) electricity rates, and notes on drafting PHEV-friendly legislation.

Ed Peper, GM North America vice president for Chevrolet, said that the there was much more to the success of the Volt than simply making a good vehicle.

"Cities have an indispensable role in making plug-in vehicles successful," he said.

Of course, it will not just be local governments that need to get on board. Corporates, universities and utility companies will also need to play their parts to ensure a suitable infrastructure can be put in place to support widespread consumer use of this car. That goes for any plug-in hybrid, not just the Volt.

GM clearly has its work cut out if it is to make the Volt a sales hit. Given the importance of the model to the survival of GM, you can bet your stimulus bonus that the General will be working hard to make it so.

The world will be watching. If it can be made work in the US, and if they can get the infrastructure right there, it can work anywhere.

Hit the press release below for full details on GM's plans.

PRESS RELEASE:

General Motors Outlines Roadmap for Cities to Plug Into the Chevrolet Volt Electric

* Plug-in-ready communities key to commercializing electric vehicles

* Next phase of getting the Volt ready for market will include communities such as Washington, D.C., San Francisco and other early-adopter markets

* GM and a broad group of utilities working together to establish infrastructure and accelerate the commercialization of plug-in electric vehicles

WASHINGTON - General Motors today outlined a comprehensive plan of action to help communities get ready for plug-in electric vehicles such as the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. GM announced details of the plan at the Washington Auto Show.

"Collaborating with communities such as San Francisco and metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C. - where there's already an interest in plug-in vehicles - is another important step toward raising customer awareness of the environmental and economic benefits of vehicles such as the Volt," said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet.

General Motors is working with key stakeholders in cities such as San Francisco to develop policies and enablers to accelerate the transition to plug-in electric vehicles. GM will undertake similar efforts around the country in communities such as Washington, D.C. These actions will help ensure the early success of the Chevrolet Volt - which hits the market next year - and other plug-in vehicles. Stakeholders that are key to establishing plug-in-ready metropolitan areas and regions include:

* State, city and county governments

* Electric utilities

* Regulators/public utility commissions

* Permitting and code officials

* Clean Cities coalitions

* Local employers

* Universities

* Early electric vehicle adopters

"Cities have an indispensable role in making plug-in vehicles successful," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "Here in San Francisco, we are acting now to make sure the charging infrastructure will be available to support these vehicles as soon as they are ready for sale, and we are working with other cities in the region to make the Bay Area a thriving market for electric transportation."

Challenges that need to be addressed include consumer incentives to make this early technology more affordable; public and workplace charging infrastructure; consumer-friendly electricity rates and renewable electricity options; government and corporate vehicle purchases; supportive permitting and codes for vehicle charging; and other incentives such as high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane access.

GM is making great strides toward bringing the Volt from concept to the showroom. More than 30 prototype vehicles powered by lithium-ion battery packs are undergoing rigorous testing at GM's Proving Ground in Milford, Mich. In addition, last month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GM announced it will manufacture the Volt battery packs in the United States.

"The Chevy Volt is truly coming to life, but preparing the market for electric vehicles also requires capable partners from outside the auto industry," said Peper. "Momentum is building as governments, technology companies, communities and universities are increasingly working together to prepare the market for electric vehicles."

Several recent positive developments in this regard include:

* Last October, the federal government approved a $7,500 tax incentive for consumers of plug-in electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt.

* In November, the California cities of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland announced a plan for plug-in vehicle infrastructure, incentives and enablers.

* A new Michigan law expedites the development of advanced battery manufacturing and research capabilities in the state.

GM is also helping to pave the way to plug-in commercialization on several other fronts, including:

* Working with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and a coalition of more than 40 utilities to solve challenges and accelerate the commercialization of plug-in electric vehicles.

* Playing a lead role in helping to create Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards for the vehicle charging interface.

"We know plenty of work still remains, both within and outside of GM," said Peper. "But today's and other recent announcements underscore the comprehensive work being done to bring the Chevrolet Volt and other electrically driven vehicles to market - and they also highlight why we are so optimistic about the ultimate success of the Volt."

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world's largest automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34 countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 252,000 people in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some 140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.