GE Capital Fleet Services is setting up a “customer experience and learning center” for electric vehicles in Eden Prairie, MN. The center will showcase GE’s portfolio of electric vehicle solutions and allow customers to evaluate electric vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles.
The facility is expected to open in the spring of 2012.
“At GE, we are committed to helping our customers incorporate electric vehicles and other alternative fuel technologies into their fleets,” said Clarence Nunn, president & CEO. “We’re looking forward to working closely with customers at our new center and sharing insights to help them improve environmental performance and reduce carbon emissions.”
The facility will include a variety of electric cars and trucks from different manufacturers. GE experts will assist customers in analyzing vehicle performance, driver experiences, service requirements, and operational efficiencies.
Alternative-powered vehicles from other energy sources will eventually be added, GE said.
There will be an education center featuring classrooms for presentations, training, and discovery workshops as well as interactive displays; a solar carport and charging center that can charge up to 11 vehicles simultaneously; an experience center and showroom to help customers evaluate vehicles in a variety of configurations; and a private half-mile driving course that will allow customers to experience a variety of cars and trucks in different driving conditions. GE will keep alternative fuel vehicles at the center on a permanent basis for customer use on the driving course.
“Electric vehicles have the potential to solve some of the world’s toughest transportation challenges, and the center we are building will be a tremendous resource as we continue to educate our customers about the benefits of this technology,” said Deb Frodl, chief strategy officer for GE Capital Fleet Services and global EV leader for GE.
