GM Holden Studying Proposal for Oz EV Production

GM Holden is reportedly mulling plans for a trial production run of 126 electric vehicles in a project that could lead to mass production and the export of local technology.

The Australian Financial Review reports the 120 Commodore EVs and six left-hand-drive Caprice EVs are part of a A$70 million ($72 million) program in the final stages of negotiation between GM Holden, the federal government and the EV Engineering consortium chaired by former Mitsubishi Australia chief Rob McEniry.

EV Engineering comprises GE Custom Fleet, auto-parts makers Robert Bosch, Air International, Continental, Futuris and EV infrastructure group Better Place. The consortium earlier this year built seven prototype Commodore EVs.

The plan includes potential development of a Cruze EV that could be made by General Motors on a global platform.

A GM Holden spokeswoman tells the newspaper the auto maker, while making no ongoing commitment, is interested in examining the latest EV proposal.

Under the EV Engineering plan, the second batch of Commodore EVs would be allocated to Australian fleet customers while the six Caprices would be configured as taxis and road-tested in San Francisco.

“They would be built on the assembly line and meet all compliance requirements so they could be driven by anyone,” McEniry says. “This is a very, very significant next step.”

The Commodore models would be built on the GM Holden assembly line in Adelaide and would feature a 194-hp electric motor mounted between the rear wheels and a lithium-ion battery pack in place of the internal-combustion engine and gearbox.

The four prototype Cruze cars would be engineered at EV Engineering’s Port Melbourne factory.

Batteries would be assembled at Robert Bosch’s Melbourne factory.

Greens Party Deputy Leader Adam Bandt wants the federal government to back the plan and make a real commitment to EVs in Australia.

“The Australian car industry is stalled and going backwards,” Brandt says in a statement. “Electric vehicles are the way to secure its future.”

Bandt says the Greens will continue supporting government auto-industry assistance, but future support must be conditional on the adoption of goals and milestones for EV development and manufacture.

This includes the allocation of at least A$75 million ($77 million) in annual assistance earmarked for the rollout of EV infrastructure in all capital cities.