August 13, 2011

Volts to be delivered to dealers in North and South Carolina in August

August 13, 2011 No Comments

Customer confidence in driving the Chevrolet Volt as an everyday vehicle depends on electric utilities providing the uninterrupted power at home and work to support the vehicles. That’s why the first 27 Volts in North Carolina are going to major utilities under a partnership between the Electric Power Research Institute and General Motors.
The GM/EPRI/Utility collaboration with more than 30 major utilities nationwide was announced at the Plug-In 2008 Conference. The utility partnership is working to ensure safe and convenient vehicle charging, raise public awareness and understanding of plug-in electric vehicles, and help public policy leaders plan the transition from petroleum to electricity as a fuel source. The program is made possible in part by a $30.5 million grant administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Recovery Act Transportation Electrification Initiative.

Chevrolet Harnesses Sun to Power Volts and Dealerships

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Chevrolet is harnessing the power of the sun to install solar-powered electric charging stations for its Volts at dealerships in North America. The Green Zone initiative will generate electricity equivalent to 12 full vehicle charges per day and excess electricity created will help supplement the dealership’s power needs.
“The Chevrolet Green Zone will provide our U.S. dealers with added flexibility when it comes to charging their vehicles, while also reinforcing GM’s commitment to renewable energy projects,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy.
American Chevrolet in Modesto, Calif., and Al Serra Auto Plaza in Grand Blanc, Mich., are the first U.S. dealerships to complete their solar charging capability by installing Green Zones on their property.

GM battery engineering teams have tested and validated the A123 battery chemistry at the automaker’s Global Battery Systems lab in Warren, Mich. Teams from both companies will now work on developing calibrations and software controls for the battery system in preparation for production.

GM Awards A123 Systems Contract for Future Batteries

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Nanophosphate® lithium ion will power future electric vehicles General Motors has awarded a production contract to A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium ion batteries and systems, for batteries to be used in future GM electric vehicles to be sold in select global markets.
The contract includes advanced Nanophosphate cells and fully integrated electronic components. The specific vehicles and brands will be announced at a later date.
GM battery engineering teams have tested and validated the A123 battery chemistry at the automaker’s Global Battery Systems lab in Warren, Mich. Teams from both companies will now work on developing calibrations and software controls for the battery system in preparation for production.

Coalition Challenges Oil Companies and Government to Show Ability to Respond in America’s Arctic

August 13, 2011 No Comments

Most Recent Test of Oil Spill Response in US Arctic Called “Failure”Coalition Challenges Oil Companies and Government to Show Ability to Respond in America’s Arctic
The “United for America’s Arctic” coalition challenged oil companies to provide proof that they can clean up oil in America’s Arctic in icy conditions. Shell is seeking approval to drill wells in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas in 2012, and the company has submitted a plan it says can respond to a worst case spill. ConocoPhillips and Statoil also have announced intentions to begin exploration drilling in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Oceana, a member of the coalition, submitted document requests to State of Alaska, Department of the Interior (DOI), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seeking any state and federal records of actual, in-the-water demonstrations of response equipment in the Arctic. Oceana received no documents from DOI or NOAA, and the response from the State was shocking.

Ford Electrifies Detroit Edison Energy Field Service Crew with Transit Connect Electric Vans

August 13, 2011 No Comments

Detroit Edison President and Chief Operating Officer, Steven Kurmas, got two out of four Ford Transit Connect Electric vehicles at DTE Energy headquarters in downtown Detroit.
The Transit Connect Electrics will be used by Detroit Edison field crews performing repair and maintenance and operations to electrical lines and other equipment on the electric distribution system.
“The addition of these all-electric Transit Connects to our fleet will help Detroit Edison advance the use of electric vehicles in a couple of ways,” said Kurmas. “First, we will learn firsthand how these vehicles perform in day-to-day field operations and how we can make the best use of their unique characteristics. Second, they will help us learn more about how the use of electric vehicles by consumers and businesses will impact the electrical system and what utilities need to do to support adoption of these vehicles.”