GM Vice President of Global Vehicle Engineering Karl Stracke announced that GM is establishing global electric vehicle demo fleet.
Speaking at the “Electrification – Plugging into the Future Forum” at the Shanghai World Expo, Stracke said that the electric vehicle fleet will be deployed in several regions around the world beginning in 2011. Different electric vehicles will be used in different regions.
These demo fleets will increase GM’s competitiveness in vehicle electrification by providing GM with real-world data on driving patterns, battery charging, market needs and customer acceptance while sharing costs and resources with supplier and government partners.
Additional details about the battery-electric vehicle demo fleets will be announced in the future.
Stracke also said that Shanghai GM, the joint venture of General Motors in China, will launch several hybrid and electric vehicles within the coming months.
This year, it will complete the development of a prototype of the Chevrolet New Sail electric vehicle. In 2011, the new Buick LaCrosse hybrid and the Chevrolet Volt will be introduced in China.