Marylanders are the latest bunch to get their hands on the 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV, and now the brand has further amped-up its green cred in the state: both the drive unit and the car’s electric motor are now being manufactured in Maryland in a newly LEED-certified building .
The e-Motor building recently received an additional 580 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar power, which means the facility now gets six percent of its electricity from renewable energies when coupled with the 1.23-megawatt solar array found elsewhere on the grounds of the Baltimore Operations complex.
The U.S. Green Building Council certified the facility as LEED silver, thanks in part to the added solar power and other new environmentally friendly components like exterior LED lighting and compact fluorescent light bulbs in certain areas.
The new facility upgrades were also recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, a voluntary program that requires a ten percent reduction in energy within the first five years. In fact, the EPA claims the Balitmore facility managed to achieve a whopping 15.5 percent reduction in overall energy intensity.
“We believe the future is electric, and strive to ensure our manufacturing process reflects the clean efficiency of these vehicles,” said plant manager Bill Tiger. “We’re always looking for better ways to power our future.”
Comments
If GM is upgrading its Spark EV motor plant, could this also be a preview of the Spark EV sales in more states?
Hey Raymondjram, we haven’t heard anything to confirm that yet but if GM chooses to open sales in other states it wouldn’t be surprising to see states like Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island or Vermont get the nod. I mention those states because last May they banded together with Maryland, Oregon and California to create a “Multi-State ZEV Action Plan” (zero emissions vehicle), promising 3.3 million zero emission vehicles on the road by 2025.
I’d wager a buck or two that’s where GM will head next, if they choose to open it up further. Also, feel free to read more about the action plan here (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/Pages/NR14052902.aspx).