GM studying recharging infrastructure
December 12, 2008 by George Skentzos
General Motors Europe has commissioned a feasibility study which will analyse the technical requirements of recharging infrastructure for plug-in electric cars.
In cooperation with Iberdrola, a leading worldwide energy authority, the study will encourage the development of electric vehicles, in particular extended-range vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt.
The studies are to be carried out in Spain and the United Kingdom in order to evaluate convenient and safe charging solutions for consumers.
GM and Iberdrola will analyse the requirements for the location of plug sockets in private homes and offices, and public or private parking, and for the installation of electricity meters.
The ultimate outcome is to assess the optimum viability of the electric car and the requirements for future mainstream use, such as electrical network capacity.
If these preliminary results are positive, both GM and Iberdrola will evaluate possible agreements with the different European, national, regional and local governments, to support the implementation of this initiative.
Print it: 
I am really excited about electric cars, smooth, quiet and powerful. They must be quick off the line; will the direct current go straight to the front wheels? If it does the take off must be neck snapping quick. Would GM enter into some sort of arrangement with Better Place to re charge/replace the batteries? Might be the solution.
Back to the future?
Funny how they toy with these ideas which have already been implemented and then quickly removed. Remember the EV1???
“Who killed the electric car”?
I’m afraid its too little too late, I hope they fold along with their co-conspirators Chrysler and Ford. Happy to see that congress won’t bail them out. They were never good for the environment or the public and now they will pay the price.
maybe they could put in a e85 bowser next to it.can’t see the petrol stations putting in either..
Me too salesman – mostly so I can get away from the clutches of the greedy oil companies who are still making exceptional profits whilst the rest of the worlds economy takes a nose dive.
Eat your little hearts out Exon Mobile and BP. With 90% of the folk living in cities and densely poulated areas and Gov’mts forcing us out of cars their greedy days are numbered.
I dont think the Government is very keen to have electric cars here any time soon. The tax collected on electricity is much lower than on petrol. Is there any???
The Government collects mega bucks in petrol excise, for nothing. Not a thing. Income for nothing. At the moment, and the forseeable future they need that income to run our contry and therefore need us all in cars powered by taxed fuel.
Truth be known (if you can believe stuff you see on the internet), you can already modify a Prius without that much effort, expertise, or cash, (around 20k im told) and it will run on electricity only…..Im suprised the government havent banned those websites too.
Why do you think hybrids are what the government wants? Is cos they still use petrol. No talk of cash for elecric only cars.
Bring on the electric cars. We should be demanding it….
I think these stations would be a boon for the whole car system – even if you had to put in a dollar or two for the charging to commence. Most people wouldnt need to do this every day, and indeed, quite often never, but for emergencies or smaller, shorter ranged cars, would be ideal, or at various roadside stops eg: like along the Hume Hwy. The Govt could then keep part of that money as tax from the booths.
too little too late. it just a publicity stunt to improve their chance of getting a better bailout plan
if you look at the EV1 saga, the thing that people liked the most was “filling up at home”. this is boloney, GM don’t give a rats about electric cars, they should though, it could have saved them
“I hope they fold along with their co-conspirators Chrysler and Ford. Happy to see that congress won’t bail them out. They were never good for the environment or the public and now they will pay the price.”
Aaron, I’m sure the millions of people they employ and those who drive their cars would disagree with you.
Sam I think you’ve nailed it. The reality is they (govt.) will need to come up with revenue for another source. Do they raise taxes? Thats not feasible in a global downturn. Its really not an easy problem for them to fix.
Mitchell, how long do you prop up an unprofitable/unviable business? Remember Ansett? The government didn’t bail them out. Many jobs were lost, but sadly thats the cost of bad business. Its just unfair that the same isn’t true for the inefficient public service.
Its been well known that the American auto giants have resisted calls for them to be more efficient and less poluting. Chickens comming home to roost perhaps.
Thanks Simon. Was starting to think that I was the only one with that view point.