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

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=51807

FOR RELEASE: 2009-02-03

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

• 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."

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[kirby]

1. With only 60,000 Volts being produced...

I doubt the electrical infrastructure is an issue.

Hopefully this will pave the way for higher volumes. Sound like a good initiative.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. GM plans to sell 60,000 in the first (ahem) second year

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt#Production_and_sales

…

In July 2007, General Motors stated that it would have the Volt on the U.S. market in 2010, and in early June 2008, they confirmed that production had been approved, with a target of getting the Volt into showrooms by the end of 2010. Following the conclusion of the 2007 UAW-GM contract talks, assembly of the Volt was assigned to Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly. Initially the gasoline engine will be imported from GM's Opel engine plant in Aspern, Austria. Early estimates, from GM staff, were of initial annual production of 60,000 units, but these claims have been scaled back to a planned 10,000 units, as of May 2008, with a ramp up to 60,000 units in the second year.

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Over time, they hope to sell many more than that.

[Javaman]

3. LOLOLOLOLOLOL priceless simply priceless!!!

at 40K a ride, who in this economy is going to be buying these?

I maintain, produce a no frills to-and-from vehicle priced at 13-15k that is either all electric (50 miles per charge, top speed of 60-65) or a hybrid that does the same and you will have people beating down your door.