From:
http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/Sept99/02sept9903.html
GM Expands EV1 Inductive Charging Infrastructure to Central California,
Supports EV1 Club's Growing Activities
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Sept. 2 -/E-Wire/-- General Motors (NYSE: GM) has
taken a positive step to expand California's EV charging infrastructure by
helping establish the first public inductive charging station outside of the
GM EV1 electric car's market area.
The station, located in picturesque San Luis Obispo on the Central
California coast, is found in the downtown parking lot of FirstBank of San
Luis Obispo. GM teamed up with FirstBank, Edison EV, Thoma Electric, and San
Luis Obispo-based Green Car Group to make this charging location a reality.
"This is a great fit for FirstBank and the city," says David R. Booker,
president and vice-chairman of FirstBank of San Luis Obispo. "The Central
Coast is a very environmentally-conscious region and FirstBank prides itself
in being a good corporate citizen. Supporting the use of clean electric
vehicles in San Luis Obispo and the surrounding area is simply the right
thing to do, and we're pleased to help lead the way with the region's first
public EV charging station at our bank."
The market areas where General Motors' EV1 electric cars are leased
presently fall within well-defined urban areas. These include the Greater
Los Angeles region, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Phoenix, and
Tucson. The effort to establish a network of public chargers is typically
aimed within these market areas.
According to GM, the reason for establishing an inductive station in Central
California is simple: Readily-available public chargers not only encourage
drivers to step up to an electric vehicle, but additionally extend the
service range of an EV. Establishing a charging station outside of the
market area is a trend-setting move that's sure to serve as a benchmark for
others involved in electric vehicle infrastructure development.
"Central California has long been a 'black hole' for charging," says EV1
owner Michael Schwabe, the first EV1 driver to use the new charging station.
"This new station makes road trips from Northern to Southern California a
lot easier."
Schwabe's leisurely trip from the San Francisco area to the EV1 Club's Labor
Day weekend rally through Malibu in Southern California included a series of
strategically selected charging opportunities along the way. While EVs are
not designed for such long-distance travel, "they are ideal for commuting,"
he adds. "Given a challenge, EV1 drivers will always push the envelope, as
did 'Ellen' sitcom writer Kris Trexler on his record setting EV1 run from
Los Angeles to Lansing, Michigan, last summer."
The EV1 Club's latest rally, which begins in Oxnard and winds through
Malibu, Santa Monica, and ultimately Hollywood, Westwood, and L.A.'s Miracle
Mile on Sunday, September 5, is drawing many electric vehicle enthusiasts
from across the state. Participants include actor/activist Ed Begley, Jr.,
an EV1 owner who regularly charges his car at home with a solar powered
Magne-Charge inductive charger.
It's no surprise that this concept of combining clean electric propulsion
with renewable energy has caught the imagination of environmental groups
like the Union of Concerned Scientists. An important part of the UCS mission
is to work for change nationally and globally to improve the environment in
ways that preserve health and enhance quality of life. It's the Union of
Concerned Scientists' view that most driving needs, ranging from daily
commuting to trips to the grocery store, can be met easily and cleanly with
electric vehicles.
"When powered by renewable energy, like wind and solar, an electric car
becomes the cleanest vehicle on the read," says Donald Aitken, EV1 owner and
senior staff scientist of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Energy Program.
"Charging electric cars with renewable energy enables people to promote
environmentally responsible choices for transportation and energy
simultaneously."
With its advanced nickel-metal-hydride batteries and second-generation
powerplant, GM's 1999 EV1 offers the greatest range, power, and performance
of any production electric vehicle. The EV1 is distinguished as the first
production electric vehicle offered to consumers since 1996.
EV1 owners range from auto enthusiasts, environmentalists, and business
owners to Hollywood actors and actresses like Suzanne Sommers, Alexandra
Paul, Danny DeVito, Ted Danson, Kevin Nealon, and of course Ed Begley, as
well as entertainers like Barry Manilow and former "Monkees" star Michael
Nesmith.
"I've been driving electric cars off and on since 1970, and I know a great
car when I see one," says Begley. "I've had the EV1 for nearly three years
now and will be showing it off Labor Day weekend in the Malibu rally. Come
join me and see the car of the future!"
For additional details on the electric vehicle rally and other EV1 Club
activities, reference the Club's Web site at http://evl-club.power.net .
Information on the EV1 is available from GM's toll free EV1 information line
at 800-25-ELECTRIC or via the Internet at the EV1 Web site at
http://www.gmev.com
SOURCE General Motors Corporation (GM)
09/02/1999
CONTACT: Dick Thompson of GM Advanced Technology Vehicles,
248-680-5537
Web site:
http://ev1-club.power.net
Web site:
http://media.gm.com
Web site:
http://www.gmev.com