FAIRFIELD, Conn. -

GE made what it believes to be the largest-ever single electric vehicle commitment on Thursday — with a major component of it connected to General Motors.
GE officials announced they will purchase 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015 for their own fleet and through their business at GE Capital Fleet Services.

GE said it intends to convert at least half of its 30,000 global fleet and partner with fleet customers to deploy a total of 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015.

The company indicated it will initially purchase 12,000 GM vehicles, beginning with the Chevrolet Volt in 2011. GE stated that it will add other vehicles as manufacturers expand their electric vehicle portfolios.

Officials explained that GE and its partners plan to use a mix of electric vehicle technologies to meet their respective needs. They understand Chevrolet Volts are scheduled to roll off production lines this month and other automakers are bringing electric vehicles to market. As this occurs, GE thinks it’s in a strong position to help deploy the supporting infrastructure to help its 65,000 global fleet customers convert and manage their fleets.

GE contends that its businesses, including Capital Fleet Services, Energy and Licensing & Trading, should benefit from an emerging electric vehicle market that could deliver up to $500 million in GE revenue during the next three years. The company said that figure includes rapidly developing markets for GE’s charging station, the WattStation.

Beyond the purchase intention, GE also unveiled two electric vehicle customer experience and learning centers. These centers are geared to provide customers, employees and researchers firsthand access to electric vehicles and developing technologies.

Officials mentioned that one center will be located outside of Detroit in Van Buren Township, Mich., as part of GE’s Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center. The other will be located at GE Capital’s Fleet Services business headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn.

GE noted that several other centers are to be announced in 2011.

“The centers will monitor and evaluate vehicle performance and charging behaviors, driver experiences, service requirements and operational efficiencies, while also affording the opportunity to experience a variety of manufacturers and models, and gain insights on electric vehicle deployment,” company officials explained.

“GE is launching this comprehensive electric vehicle program as part of its ecomagination business strategy to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technology though innovation and R&D investment,” they went on to say. “In support of the announcement, an electric vehicle readiness toolkit has been launched on ecomagination.com to help municipalities, customers and individuals prepare for wide-scale electric vehicle deployment.”

The company emphasized that level of deployment begins with Thursday’s announcement, which was discussed by GE chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Immelt.

“Electric vehicle technology is real and ready for deployment and we are embracing the transformation with partners like GM and our fleet customers,” Immelt stated.

“By electrifying our own fleet, we will accelerate the adoption curve, drive scale, and move electric vehicles from anticipation to action,” he continued.

“We make technology that touches every point of the electric vehicle infrastructure and are leading the transformation to a smarter electrical grid,” Immelt went on to say. “This transformation will be good for our businesses and for our shareowners. Wide-scale adoption of electric vehicles will also drive clean energy innovation, strengthen energy security and deliver economic value.”

GM CEO Dan Akerson shared his reaction to GE’s decision.

“GE’s commitment reflects confidence that electric vehicles are a real-world technology that can reduce both emissions and our dependence on oil,” Akerson offered.

“It is also a vote of confidence in the Chevrolet Volt, which we will begin delivering to retail customers by the end of this year,” he added. “We are pleased that the Volt will play a major role in this program, which will spur innovation and benefit our companies, our customers, and society as a whole.”

Also applauding GE’s decision was Fred Smith, FedEx chairman, president and CEO and Electrification Coalition member.

“With more than 16.3 million vehicles in operation in 2009, the nation’s fleet can drive initial ramp-up scale in the battery industry and OEM supply chains,” Smith calculated.

“By buying these vehicles, GE is helping ramp up production which will help lower the price of vehicles and their components and make electric vehicles more visible and acceptable to the public at large,” Smith went on to say. “This is good for GE, good for our economy, and good for our nation.”