US giant General Electric (GE) says it plans to purchase 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015 in the largest single electric vehicle purchase to date.
Nearly half of the vehicles (12,000) will be purchased from General Motors, starting with the Chevrolet Volt when it is launched in 2011, as well as from other manufacturers as vehicles become available.
The vehicles will convert at least half of GE’s 30,000 strong staff fleet to electric vehicles and also be leased out via GE’s Capital Fleet Services to other businesses, sales reps and repair crews.
GE has one of the world’s largest fleets, and also has its own electric vehicle recharging technology, the WattSation, that it will use for its fleet.
“Electric vehicle technology is real and ready for deployment and we are embracing the transformation,” says chair and CEO Jeff Immelt.
“By electrifying our own fleet, we will accelerate the adoption curve, drive scale, and move electric vehicles from anticipation to action.”
Over the next three year, the benefits for GE could total $500 million in electric vehicle related revenue.