The Greening of GM’s Baltimore Operations
Plant’s environmental achievements prove energy efficiency will power the future
This spring, Chevrolet started selling the Spark EV in Maryland. The state’s robust charging infrastructure and state and federal tax credits make it the perfect place for the Spark EV to call home.
Not only is the Spark EV the most efficient U.S. retail electric vehicle on the market – delivering an EPA-estimated 119 MPGe combined city/highway – the plant where this small car is built is efficient, too.
We build the Spark EV’s complete electric motor and drive unit at our Baltimore Operations’ e-Motor building in Maryland. A 580 kilowatt solar array was recently added to the roof, increasing Baltimore Operation’s total solar capacity to 1.81 megawatts.
This array is one of many features that helped the building earn a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Other energy-saving actions included using LED lighting on the building’s exterior and compact fluorescent lighting throughout production areas, and installing variable frequency drives to control air compressors.
Chevrolet Volts at the facility take advantage of one of six EV charging stations powered by a solar canopy. The sun powers both the vehicles and the energy grid. It’s part of an innovative project involving the array, a fleet of Chevrolet Volts, and OnStar Smart Grid technology.
TimberRock Energy Solutions manages the flow of energy from the array and canopy to the vehicles or to the grid based on the energy load and peaked demand. TimberRock monitors the output of energy generated by the sun through the OnStar system – a unique partnership recognized by the Maryland Energy Administration with the Game Changer Award. The award honors innovative projects that help the state use more renewable energy.
A laser focus on energy conservation led to Baltimore Operations surpassing the voluntary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Challenge for Industry, which requires a 10 percent reduction in energy intensity within five years. The facility reduced energy intensity by 15.5 percent in just three years, and now joins the ranks of 70 other GM facilities that have already met the Challenge.
We believe the future is electric and strive to ensure our manufacturing processes reflect the clean efficiency of our vehicles. It’s just one of the ways we’re powering a greener future.
