GM's Faster Chargers Seen As Vital To EV Use

General Motors Corp. is testing new charging technology that may change the way people use electric vehicles (EVs). The technology, currently being tested in GM's electric pickup trucks operating in Southern California Edison's fleet, 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," says Barry Wallerstein, the Air Quality Management District's (AQMD) acting executive officer. Fast chargers may potentially allow recharging an electric vehicle to become almost as convenient as refilling the gas tank, he says. GM is committed to bringing environmentally friendly, advanced automotive technologies to the market, says Dave Grieco, GM's manager of infrastructure development for Advanced Technology Vehicles.