GE: Bringing the Electric Car to Life

The next year and a half will see the re-birth of the electric car. And none other than GE (GE) -- that's right, General Electric, will be playing a big role in this transformation of transportation by applying its know-how to both the power grid and the power pack.

GE is working with Chrysler and the Dept of Energy to create smaller, and one would hope lighter, cheaper, and more efficient battery packs for electric autos, according to the WSJ. For the all-electric prototype announced today by Chrysler, a Dodge sports car called the EV, the automaker is relying on a lithium-ion battery with a 150 mile range when fully charged.

This news come the heels of last week's infrastructure announcement. GE CEO Jeff Immelt joined Google (GOOG) CEO Eric Schmidt at the Googleplex to announce a collaboration to develop a 21st century electricity system, with the ultimate aim of using green energy sources to vastly improve the grid's production capacity. While the current grid can support millions of all electric vehicles, the GE-Google partnership would help ensure plentiful electricity on a smart basis. For instance, if I plugged in my electric vehicle at my buddy's house, I would get the charge on my monthly bill and not him. Or juice from my fully-charged vehicle could be tapped by the grid if it were idle for a long period of time. And my bill would then show a credit.

As a concerned citizen, I am excited to see the EV-1 getting its due. (Add Who Killed The Electric Car to your Netflix queue.) But as a Conde Nast Portfolio reader (and editor), I am blown away to see how prescient Andy Grove was when he called for GE to lead the way on electric cars.

Comments

[Norman Lepo...:]

Thanks for the info. I did not know this.

2008 Sep 24 12:17 PM

[paul:]

Rumor has it that the EV-1 had a manufacturing cost 2x the leasing price which was 2x the market value. Once more the reality hits, the energy issue is an economic problem only solvable by R&D and time.

2008 Sep 24 01:55 PM

[pockyclips ...:]

Much as I would like to see it happen, there are problems.
1) Americans will have to change their mindset. Cars will have to be slow charged, preferably overnight. No long distance trips. Train/car combo trips maybe, where you can recharge your vehicle while being transported by rail.
2) Present battery technology limits electrics to So Cal, South Texas
and Florida. Batteries won't charge well the further from room temp. you go.
3) Cost. You'll have to plunk down at least $3k every 3 years to replace your batteries, in addition to the higher up front cost.

2008 Sep 24 02:22 PM

[Save the EV1:]

So your worried about 3k every three years (which isn't actually a fact)?? Global Warming is progressing and the EV1's will prolong the fact, which is amazing. If Al Gore was president when these cars were first made instead of Bush, Global Warming may have already taken a definate decrease. Suck it up because this car is amazing. It will save our environment, which is much needed.

2008 Sep 28 11:36 PM

[Save the EV1:]

Also, to solve the whole no long distant trip thing, like before, and I am sure they are still planning on this, it is quite possible to put in charging stations, just like gas stations. And maybe the reason the cost is so high for these cars is to make these charging stations. Plus, if gas costs are 3.75 and rising, it will cost much, MUCH, more than changing the battery every 3 years! (as stated its .40 cents to fill this car up completely).

2008 Sep 29 11:10 PM

[evmdfan:]

for a more detailed look at the NiMH / Chevron / GM scandal, as well as more general knowledge about electric vehicles and their advantages, check out the book "Two Cents Per Mile" by Nevres Cefo.

Jul 28 02:04 PM