Relationships between automakers and electric vehicle charging infrastructure suppliers are significant to follow – the arrangements are vital for pieces of the puzzle to fall into place. General Electric is one of these partners, with its Wattstation, a Level 2 charging station being installed in garages for 240 volt power. Wheego has an alliance with GE, and is marketing the LiFe plug-in electric car with the GE Wattstation. Available in pedestal or wall mount styles, the GE Wattstation will charge the Wheego LiFe from 50% full to 100% full in about five hours. Wheego also supports the Clipper Creek, Ecotality, and Aerovironment charging stations for Level 2 charging.
General Electric recently opened a 6,000-square-foot Vehicle Innovation Center at its Eden Prairie, Minn., headquarters, designed to teach people about electrics, as well as natural gas, hydrogen and propane cars. The primary target is fleets, and indeed they are likely to be the EV’s biggest customers in the early days. General Electric is in a strong position to advance EV technology through its GE Capital Fleet Services clientele and its role in electric power, products, and technologies, which goes back to the electricity industry’s original formation.
