GE and GM to partner on deploying EV infrastructure in China; focus on Shanghai
22 September 2011
General Electric and General Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate jointly the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in China. The MOU was announced at the 2011 China International Electric Power and Electric Engineering Technology Exhibition in Shanghai.
The main piece of the co-operation centers on Shanghai, which was selected by the Chinese government as the country’s first EV pilot city earlier this year and home to both GE’s and GM’s China headquarters. The two companies agreed to install GE’s WattStation and DuraStation charging systems at a government-assigned international EV demonstration zone in Shanghai’s Jiading District and at the GM Headquarters office in the city.
WattStation and DuraStation are different specifications of EV charging systems developed by GE Energy Industrial Solutions group that enable rapid charging for electric vehicles both at home and on the road.
According to the agreement, GE will also purchase GM’s Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle with extended-range capability, for use at its China headquarters campus in Shanghai. General Motors plans to begin selling Volts in China before the end of this year.
In addition, the companies will coordinate their respective engagement efforts with relevant Chinese government ministries, regulators and grid operators on formulation of the country’s EV industrial standards.
The electric vehicle era is not only about cars powered by greener fuels; a convenient charging facility network will play a key role in its success. To make it a reality in China, we bring innovative charging station solutions and are engaging grid operators, auto makers, city governments and end customers to advance their deployment.
—GE China’s Chief Commercial Officer Albert Wong
In August, GE Energy announced a partnership with Hertz Corporation, the world’s largest airport car rental company, to advance the rollout of EVs and charging stations in China, which includes the co-location of electric vehicles and GE EV charging infrastructure as a combined offering.
GM regards electrification as a key global industry trend. We are bringing our solutions for the electrification of the motor vehicle to China as part of our commitment to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. We look forward to working with GE to promote the acceptance and infrastructure for use of vehicles powered by electricity in the world’s largest vehicle market.
—Ray Bierzynski, GM Executive Director of Electrification
Private firms will move to and do business where their services are actively promoted by the local authorities. USA, with all the political bickering, lobbies, uncontrolled speculation, huge debts, unemployment and ongoing financial crisis is no longer the ideal place it used to be.
Posted by: HarveyD | 22 September 2011 at 08:31 AM
Your Tax Dollars at work.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 22 September 2011 at 02:09 PM
Harvey you make no sense.
Business does not move out because of political bickering; why would they care.
Nor because of lobbies; big business HAS the lobbies.
Nor because of unemployment; they WANT a big worker pool.
Nor because of uncontrolled speculation or huge debts; but because they fear a tax policy that punishes success - the USA is no longer the ideal place some of us thought it used to be.
GE and GM are moving out with our money - I guess they think their their tax free status will not last forever.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 22 September 2011 at 09:13 PM
TT....regardless which way you look at it, manufacturing facilities have been moving out of USA in groves in the last 2 or 3 decades and the process is accelerating. When you have squeezed the lemon to the last drop you have to look for another one, often from somewhere else.
Without its traditional low cost labor manufacturing base, USA can no longer compete against countries with much lower cost labor force. Manufacturing facilities are easy to move and update at the same time. GM's Buick is a good example, the very old plant closed in USA while a new up-date plant opened in China. Many appliance manufacturers have done the same. Apple is the perfect example.
Another major problem that we will very soon face is the progressive lost of wealth by the majority. Future 300 million local poor may not have the means to buy cheap, made in Asia goods, and more so for more expensive local products. The trend has started. China's manufactured products have been flat for the last 3 months. Our's has been going down for months or since the 2007 WB fiasco.
Do not rely on GDP to reflect our true economy because almost 60% of it is composed of local sales/use of imported products. You have to look at our pure or NET local production, excluding all imported parts and components and all other imports. That picture is not as rosy.
Our manufacturing facilities who have moved to Asia have multiplied their profits in a very short time and are not willing to come back, because; they will have to pay part of the huge accumulated debts, pay much higher wages and fringe benefits, pay expensive lobbies to find ways to pay less taxes and reduce their cost, pay their share of the cost of 20+ million unemployed, public schools, 3+ million prisoners, 10 million police/security force, extremely expensive armed forces, oil wars, bickering politicians, organized speculators and you name it. No.....they may never come back.
Posted by: HarveyD | 23 September 2011 at 11:03 AM
If I were the CCP I`d be worried about these two mega-giants coming in and buying up the party. It IS for sale. That`s how they fuel the economy. Now, two multinationals with huge cash and leverage over technology are moving in. Pretty soon we`ll see the Beijing Disney Project announced. Followed by the Quangdong Stadium at McDonald`s Peoples Park.
Pretty hilarious to see CCP playing right into the hands of the western imperialists!
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Posted by: D | 18 October 2011 at 12:16 AM