SCEcorp Announces New Business, Partnerships with General Motors and Delco Electronics

Los Angeles, California -- January 17, 1996 -- In a move to rapidly bring the convenience of charging to owners of electric vehicles, SCEcorp announced the creation of a new company, Edison EV, to sell, lease, install and service charging systems for electric vehicles. The new company has created a unique partnership with General Motors, offering one-stop availability of equipment and installation services to GM electric vehicle customers, initially through participating Southern California Saturn retailers.

Charging the new EV1 is simple and safe with the MAGNE CHARGE inductive charging equipment. Convenience and safety features include: lightweight, ergonomically designed charging paddle, charger-status display, built-in diagnostics and no metal-to-metal contacts.

In another important alliance, Edison EV will be the California distributor of MAGNE CHARGE inductive charging systems produced by Delco Electronics Corporation for Delco Propulsion Systems. GM's two recently announced electric vehicles -- the EV1 and S-series electric pickup -- exclusively use inductive equipment for charging.

"This marks a significant milestone on the path to making owning electric vehicles a real-world transportation solution. And Edison EV is a logical step in SCEcorp's long-standing commitment to the advancement of electric transportation," said John E. Bryson, chairman and chief executive officer of SCEcorp, parent company of Southern California Edison, the nation's second largest utility.

"As we move to launch the electric transportation industry in North America, we recognize the need to continue to grow our partnerships with many of the nation's key electric utilities to ensure complete customer satisfaction for these exciting new products," said Kenneth R. Baker, vice president of GM research and development. "Edison EV will help provide our California customers with an easy and convenient solution for charging their GM vehicles. This is another essential building block in the EV ind ustry."

"Edison EV provides a strong partner to Delco Electronics for effectively implementing the needed residential and public EV charging infrastructure in California," said Dr. Scott Walker, senior vice president and senior chief technical officer, Delco E lectronics Corporation. "Inductive charging is a user-friendly charging solution and Edison EV is capable of providing customers with cost-effective installation and high-quality service."

Edison EV, a non-regulated subsidiary of SCEcorp, was created to support the charging needs of EV owners in three markets: charging in public areas such as retail, transit and entertainment centers; fleet charging in the public and private sector; and home charging for personal use customers. It will be the premier provider of charging equipment, circuit installation service and repair in California.

"We're pleased to be the distributor of the MAGNE CHARGE inductive charging systems in California. And we're happy that Saturn retailers will be marketing the EV1 and our charging installations," said Diane Wittenberg, president of Edison EV. "Customer satisfaction is important to us, and we think the EV1 and inductive charging will be very attractive to EV customers."

Los Angeles-based Edison EV will offer charger installation and service for EV customers throughout the state, working with all utilities. Edison EV intends to expand its partnership arrangements with other automobile manufacturers and into locations across the nation as more electric vehicle models come to market.

"We're paying close attention to charging in public places. Our first goal is to give people confidence in this emerging technology -- confidence that they'll have 'opportunity' charging where they shop and work," said Wittenberg. "EVs are a good idea. But a lot of good ideas don't happen because there's no muscle behind them. We've got that muscle."

Edison EV's complete charging design and installation services help companies and fleet buyers meet the unique constraints of each site with an emphasis on safety, reliability and ease of use. The company also offers information about the credits, infrastructure tax deductions, and other regulatory benefits.

"A growing electric vehicle market will certainly contribute to improving air quality in California. Our research indicates that California is an ideal market to launch EVs, with a climate and topography well suited for EVs and a public excited about their potential,'' says Wittenberg.

The announcement was made at a press conference at the Petersen Automotive Museum with displays of the EV1 and charging systems.

Edison EV will be operated as a non-regulated subsidiary of SCEcorp. SCEcorp is the parent corporation of Southern California Edison Company and two other non-utility companies, Mission Energy and Mission First Financial. With headquarters in Rosemead, Calif., SCEcorp has assets of $22 billion.