'Fast Charger' Shortens Electric Vehicle Recharging Time From Hours to Minutes

Charging as Convenient as Pulling Into a Gas Station

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Sept. 10, 1998 /PRNewswire/ -- A revolutionary new charging technology -- poised to change the way people use electric vehicles --begins testing today with General Motors' electric pickups operating in Southern California Edison's fleet. The new technology can charge electric vehicle batteries more than seven times faster than current chargers -- reducing charging time from hours to minutes.

"Zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars and trucks are vital to the goal of achieving clean air in the Southland," said Barry Wallerstein, AQMD's acting executive officer. "Fast chargers have the potential to make recharging an electric vehicle almost as convenient as filling up at a gas
station.

"The charging technology that we are unveiling today marks another step in GM's commitment to making a business of electric vehicles and to bringing to market environmentally-friendly, advanced automotive technologies," said
Dave Grieco, GM's manager of infrastructure development for Advanced Technology Vehicles.

This fast charging system was developed through collaboration of government and private enterprise. General Motors developed and built the charging system which is partly sponsored by funding from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) through CALSTART. Southern California Edison provided the vehicles, modified Chevrolet S-10 electric pickups, and data in the fleet demonstration test trials. Edison EV installed the charger at SCE's Rosemead headquarters.

"Understanding our customers' future energy needs, and leading the way in new technologies that make sense is what we are all about," said Lynda Ziegler, director of Market Management for SCE. "As the first company to evaluate and thoroughly understand the potential of these new systems, we are in a position to better serve our customers and respond to their questions ... such as how to charge them in the safest, most efficient and economical way possible."

GM's Magne Charge system charges batteries much faster than today's chargers because it has more than seven times as much power -- 50 kW vs. the 6.6 kW standard charger used today by the GM EV1, Chevrolet S-10 electric pickup and other inductively charged electric vehicles. Inductive charging uses a sealed, weatherproof charging paddle that fits into a charge port on the vehicle. Energy is coupled electromagnetically into the vehicle for recharging the batteries without using metal-to-metal contact.

"Fast charging has the potential to meaningfully increase the use of electric vehicles," said Michael Gage, president and CEO of CALSTART. "We believe the ability to quickly and conveniently add range could open up entirely new markets for EVs, and help move usage from fleets to consumers. One of our goals in this program -- beyond testing leading-edge technology -- is to test new uses of EVs this technology will allow.

" The High Power Inductive Charging System Project began about one year ago and now moves into a system test demonstration phase. The charger in Rosemead is used to fast charge five modified Chevrolet S-10 electric pickups equipped with lead-acid or nickel-metal-hydride battery packs. Data from the trucks' daily operation provides real-world customer feedback on technical performance and user acceptance of the fast charger in the existing public charging infrastructure. This data will also help assess market potential for the new technology.

"Fast charging is likely to become an important complement to the existing network of public charging stations," said Edison EV Director Ed Kjaer. "Free public charging will continue to attract drivers traveling closer to home, while fast charging may provide new flexibility for out-of-town travel. Fast charging may also greatly expand the use of electric buses."

Successful completion of this program is required for GM to take the next step in developing high power charging for the retail market.

SOURCE General Motors - North American Operations.