The campaign is organized by sustainable business advocacy group Ceres and its Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy, or BICEP, coalition.

GM’s participation was announced today at the Ceres Conference in San Francisco.

Signers of the declaration are calling for policymakers to address climate change by promoting clean energy, boosting efficiency and limiting carbon emissions – strategies GM said it is employing within its operations as it seeks to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing.

“We want to be a change agent in the auto industry,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs. “As our world faces issues like congestion and climate change, we are at the forefront in transforming the way we move, from building more efficient vehicles to partnering with car-sharing startup Relay Rides.”

According to Gallup and Yale University polls, respectively, a majority of Americans believe climate change is happening and that corporations, as well as government officials, should be doing more to address the issue.

In March, GM CEO Dan Akerson called on President Obama to appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission to develop a 30-year policy framework for energy security.

GM said it has worked with Ceres for more than two decades to refine its sustainability strategies and performance.

Worldwide, the American automotive manufacturer said it is dedicated to energy efficiency and is working toward a goal of reducing energy intensity from its facilities by 20 percent between now and 2020.

GM currently has 54 facilities that meet the voluntary ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, which requires facilities to reduce energy intensity by 10 percent within five years.

Said GM facilities cut energy intensity by an average of 26 percent within just two to three years, saving the company $90 million in energy costs.

GM also declared it is the No. 1 automotive user of solar power in the United States and hosts two of the five largest rooftop solar arrays in the world. GM’s goal is to promote the use of 125 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020.

Beyond offering fuel-efficient vehicles in its brand’s lineups, GM said it is investing up to $40 million in the Chevrolet Carbon Reduction Initiative, in which Chevy helps financially in community-based carbon-reduction projects throughout the United States with a goal of reducing up to 8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.

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This means that when compared to the average new vehicle, the Spark EV can potentially save its owners up to $9,000 in fuel cost over five years.

The Spark EV goes on sale this summer in California and Oregon.

“Being able to provide our customers with the best overall efficiency of any retail EV has always been a key target for the Spark EV engineering team,” said Pam Fletcher, GM executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles. “We’re poised to deliver to the market an EV that’s not just efficient, but also thrilling to drive thanks to the 400 pound-feet torque output of its electric motor.

The company said the Spark EV’s 21 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack will continue Chevrolet’s tradition of offering industry-leading limited warranty protection – eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Spark EV will be the first vehicle on the market to offer as an available option the recently approved SAE combo charger for DC Fast Charging. The capability, available shortly after launch, will enable the Spark EV to recharge up to 80 percent of its capacity in approximately 20 minutes.

According to Chevrolet, the battery system is capable of handling multiple DC Fast Charges daily.

Charging can also be completed in less than seven hours using a dedicated 240V charge. A 120V charge cord set comes standard.

Charging of the Spark EV can be managed and monitored remotely using the Spark EV’s smart phone application, provided by OnStar, which is standard for three years.

“The Chevrolet Spark EV is a great city car which blends technology, functionality and style in an unexpected package” said Cristi Landy, director of Chevrolet small and electrified vehicle marketing. “We built on the success of the Volt and the gas-powered Spark to offer an affordable, fun and efficient mini car our customers will love to drive.”

Chevrolet also said the Spark EV will set an acceleration benchmark for an urban city electric vehicle – 0-60 mph in under eight seconds due to the mating of a permanent magnet electric motor, which produces more than 100 kilowatt (130 horsepower), with the coaxial drive unit.

The GM designed oil-cooled, permanent magnet motor is the heart of the Spark EV’s propulsion system.

Per General Motors, putting more than half a million road miles on development versions of the Spark EV enabled engineers to make the performance of the electric motor the best it could be by using a bar wound copper stator and unique rotor configuration.

The motor and drive unit are assembled at GM’s Baltimore operations plant in White Marsh, Md.

Last week, the plant celebrated the Spark EV motor production in Baltimore, marking the first time a major U.S. auto manufacturer has designed and built both a complete electric motor and drive unit for a modern electric vehicle in the United States.

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Electric motors for the new Chevrolet Spark EV are now manufactured at its Baltimore Operations plant in White Marsh, Md.

“The era of using electricity to help improve performance and fuel economy is already here and the trend is only going to grow,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Sustainability. “Today is further proof GM is leading in the development of electric vehicles that will improve America’s energy security.”

GM engineers designed and developed the Spark EV’s motor and drive unit to provide maximum efficiency and power with world-class reliability. They said the permanent magnet motor features a unique design to provide precise delivery of power.

The Spark EV electric motor will produce 130 horsepower (100 kilowatts) and 400 pound-feet of torque.  This will result in an acceleration of less than 8 seconds from 0 to 60 mph.

The Spark EV will be sold in California and Oregon this summer and sales will later expand to Canada, Europe and South Korea.

“Electric motor development and manufacturing is a critical area of expertise GM has mastered as we grow our portfolio of electric vehicles to address the needs of our global customers.” said Larry Nitz, GM executive director of Vehicle Electrification Engineering.

After refining its expertise in electric motors at a pilot facility in Wixom, Mich., production of electric motors began at White Marsh. Workers at the Baltimore plant completed extensive training on the operation of the machines used to configure portions of the electric motor and drive units.

“The motor design was created by American engineers and it’s being manufactured and assembled by American workers,” said plant manager Bill Tiger. “By designing electric motors in Michigan and manufacturing them at Baltimore Operations, GM controls the design, materials and production processes, as well as reducing costs and improving performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability.”

GM said the Baltimore facility is highly green and environmentally friendly. It is GM’s exclusive manufacturer of A1000 transmissions for heavy duty pickup trucks and electric motors and drivetrains for the Chevrolet Spark EV.

The facility has been landfill free since 2007, recycling 100 percent of its waste. Baltimore’s facility has had a 1.2 megawatt roof mounted solar array installed in May 2011 and received certification for their Wildlife Habitat in June 2011.

A new facility has been built on the campus to house manufacturing for eMotor production.

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As many of you know, the follow-up to the Volt will be released early in 2014.

General Motors said that paddle shifters take on new meaning in the ELR. Unlike traditional performance vehicles where the steering wheel-mounted paddles allow drivers to upshift and downshift the mechanical transmission, Cadillac ELR’s paddle shifters enable the driver to temporarily regenerate energy and store it as electricity in the battery pack for later use.

ELR’s Regen on Demand feature is, according to GM, unique to the compact luxury coupe and builds on Cadillac’s performance-bred heritage.

“Regen on Demand enables ELR drivers to actively re-capture energy when slowing down, such as when  approaching slower traffic or setting up for a tight turn,” said Chris Thomason, ELR chief engineer. “This allows the driver to take more active role in the electric vehicle driving experience.”

To engage Regen on Demand, the driver simply takes his or her foot off the accelerator and pulls back on either the left or right steering-wheel paddle to begin regenerating electricity.

When engaged, GM said Regen on Demand provides vehicle deceleration that is more than what a typical vehicle experiences while coasting, providing control and dynamic performance characteristics similar to downshifting in a manual-transmission vehicle. The feature does not bring the vehicle to a full stop.

Releasing the paddle disengages Regen on Demand, allowing the vehicle to coast normally. The driver can engage and disengage Regen on Demand as desired and as traffic conditions allow.

“Pulling back on the paddle to slow down allows the ELR driver to keep their foot close to the throttle, ready to accelerate,” Thomason said. “It provides a more engaged, satisfying driving experience, and when you consider the added benefit of re-capturing energy, it’s also a smart thing to do.”

During regenerative braking, the system converts the vehicle’s momentum to electrical power and stores the energy in the T-shaped battery pack located along the centerline of the vehicle, between the front and rear wheels for optimal weight distribution.

The pack supplies energy to an advanced electric drive unit capable of 295 pound-feet of torque. Using only the energy stored in the battery, the ELR will deliver an estimated range of about 35 miles of pure electric driving, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature.

Cadillac also revealed that the ELR includes a blended regenerative braking system that will recapture a majority of the energy in a vehicle’s momentum rather than losing it as heat in the brakes, which is common with conventional vehicles.

When the brakes are applied, energy is recaptured, as the vehicle slows. If more brake force is applied, ELR automatically blends in friction brakes to apply greater stopping power for more urgent stops.

The system has a standard 4-channel anti-lock braking system and includes electronic Brake Force Distribution, which uses independent rear control for improved stability and braking during cornering, as well as more effective use of the rear brakes as vehicle loading occurs.

Also, the disc brake system features vented front and solid rear Duralife rotors with Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing (FNC) finishing technology to reduce corrosion and deliver longer life.

Charging the ELR’s battery can be done with a 120V electrical outlet or a dedicated 240V charging station. The vehicle can be completely recharged in about 4.5 hours using a 240V outlet, depending on the outside temperature.

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Tenneco is a global supplier to General Motors on the new midsize vehicle platform, supporting Chevy Malibu production in North America, China and Korea, as well as the Buick Regal and LaCrosse models in North America and China, and the Opel Insignia model in Europe.

Tenneco said is supplies both hot- and cold-end emission control systems for the 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine, 2.5L Ecotec four-cylinder engine and the new Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged engine.

Tenneco collaborated with GM engineers to provide lightweight solutions in the Malibu’s exhaust system including designs that reduce precious metal content and incorporate single wall muffler shells and hollow rods to lower cost and weight.

The company is also supplying front strut modules, rear shock absorbers and exhaust isolators.

“We’re proud of our partnership with GM and the global collaboration we provide to support the company with this important vehicle launch,” said Gregg Sherrill, Tenneco chairman and chief executive officer. “The Malibu launch requires engineering and manufacturing resources in key regions of the world, and Tenneco has the capabilities in place to accommodate these needs.”

For North America production, Tenneco manufactures the Malibu’s hot-end exhaust systems at its Smithville, Tennessee and Seward, Nebraska facilities, and supplies converters from Litchfield, Mich.

Cold-end exhaust systems are produced at the company’s Cambridge, Ontario and Seward, Nebraska plants. Ride control components are manufactured in Hartwell, Georgia and Kettering, Ohio, and exhaust isolators are supplied from the company’s Suzhou, China facility.

Tenneco’s emission control technical centers in Edenkoben, Germany, Grass Lake, Michigan and Shanghai, China provided engineering and system integration support.

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Everton and England international soccer player Phil Jagielka has taken delivery of England’s Volt cousin, the Vauxhall Ampera extended-range electric vehicle.

A central defender with 16 international caps, Jagielka will be driving a top-of-the-range Ampera Electron in Power Blue.

“I am delighted to be driving a Vauxhall Ampera,” said Phil. “I am very grateful for all of the help Vauxhall have given me in making this revolutionary vehicle available.”

The model is well equipped with voice activated sat nav featuring street level mapping for 20 European countries, audio/video DVD player, hard drive device with 30GB music file capacity and Bose ‘Energy Efficient Series’ sound system.

“We are very pleased Phil has chosen a Vauxhall Ampera,” said Duncan Aldred, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “It’s great news for Vauxhall to pair one of England’s most dependable centre backs with our universally-acclaimed extended-range electric vehicle.”

Jagielka joins former Manchester United and England star-turned pundit Gary Neville in getting behind the wheel of the Ampera.  Eco-conscious Neville has been driving an Ampera for the last nine months.

Arriving in British showrooms last year, the Ampera has a real-world battery range of between 25-50 miles, after which a small range-extending generator, powered by a 1.4-litre gasoline engine, intervenes to provide up to an additional 300-plus mile range.

At all times, the Ampera’s wheels are electrically driven, setting it apart from conventional hybrid vehicles.

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Vauxhall has handed over an Ampera to Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) as part of a trial of the revolutionary extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV).

The cutting edge vehicle was handed over at eDRIVE, an electric vehicle event sponsored by the Northern Ireland Government, Department of Regional Development, held at the Titanic Museum, in Belfast.

The Ampera is due to go on service with PSNI in Belfast city centre as an incident response vehicle.

“We’re looking forward to putting the revolutionary Ampera through its paces responding to incidents while also reducing our emissions and providing significant savings on fuel costs,” said Marcus Belshaw, Head of Transport for PSNI.

The lack of concern about range anxiety was key for the car being chosen for this task, even though charging point infrastructure is well developed in Northern Ireland: currently EV owners are no further than ten miles from a charger.

“Vauxhall is delighted that the Ampera is being trialled by PSNI, and we are confident that they will be impressed by the Ampera’s durability, performance and economy,” said Dick Ellam, Manager, Vauxhall Special Vehicles.

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As part of the commitment to reducing its carbon emissions, the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust will be the first to trial a Vauxhall Ampera as part of its emergency fleet.

The ambulance service said that over the next few months the Ampera will operate as a rapid response vehicle in the York area to see how low carbon vehicles might be incorporated into the Trust’s fleet of more than 900 vehicles (emergency and Patient Transport Service).

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 30% by 2015, as well as reducing its spending on fuel.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service believes the E-REV technology in the Ampera makes it a good option as it benefits from both an electric motor and a petrol engine – so there isn’t any concern about range anxiety.

The Vauxhall Ampera is believed by the emergency service to be the first electric vehicle to be trialed by an ambulance service on a long-term basis. “We are very excited to be the first ambulance service to trial an electric vehicle that will respond to incidents, reduce our emissions and provide significant savings on fuel costs.  As it has both electric and petrol power we are confident that it is a viable alternative,” commented Richard Smith, Fleet Manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The City of York Council has agreed to support the trial by making plug-in electric charging points available across the city.

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“Part of our renewable energy goal as a company involves helping other organizations learn how to successfully implement renewable energy strategies,” said Rob Threlkeld, renewable energy manager for GM. “Joining SEIA enables us to reach a pool of like-minded companies committed to making solar energy a significant energy source.”

GM said that last year, SEIA ranked GM as the No. 1 automotive solar user in the United States. Overall, it placed No. 13 among other companies, such as IKEA and Walmart, making significant use of solar power.

“SEIA is thrilled that General Motors has made solar deployment such an integral part of their global sustainability practices,” said Solar Energy Industries Association President and CEO Rhone Resch.  “Transportation and energy are intrinsically linked, and GM’s decision shows the company’s keen understanding of the synergies between the two industries. We’re looking forward to having GM at the table to discuss how we can provide clean affordable transportation and energy options for the American people.”

Solar Energy Industries Association President and CEO Rhone Resch and General Motors Renewable Energy Manager, Rob Threlkeld.

GM declared its solar arrays in the United States generated enough electricity in 2012 to power 800 U.S. homes. That number is expected to double in 2013.

GM’s U.S. solar installations include:

• 1.8  megawatt rooftop solar array at Toledo (Ohio) Transmission Plant expected to generate 3 percent of the plant’s electric consumption.
• 1.237 megawatt array on the rooftop of its White Marsh, Md. plant near Baltimore – one of the largest in the state – generates nearly 6 percent of the facility’s electric consumption.
• 1 megawatt solar array on the rooftop of its Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. distribution center. It was the first public solar project in the United States at 1 megawatt when it began operating in 2006.
• 900 kilowatt rooftop array on its parts distribution warehouse in Fontana, Calif.
• 516 kilowatt ground-mount solar array at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly – the largest of its kind in Michigan.
• 350 kilowatt ground-mount array at GM’s Lake Orion Assembly Plant will provide enough energy to power the equivalent of 45 homes annually in Michigan.

GM stated that in the United States alone, 2.1 percent of the company’s energy consumption comes from renewable resources.

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Speculation that GM would take the hybrids out of the lineup – though still available as 2013 models – surfaced in late summer. Now reports are saying GM North America President Mark Reuss has confirmed the Sierra and Sliverado trucks will use only internal combustion engines.

The engines are the company’s all-new EcoTec3 powerplants available as the standard 4.3-liter V6, or the optional 5.3-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8.

All-new EcoTec3 gasoline engine available in V6 or V8 variants are the only powertrains available for the 2014 GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado.

EcoTec3 engines feature direct injection, cylinder deactivation and continuously variable valve timing to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions, according to GM.

Under light load cylinder deactivation cuts four of the cylinders on the V8 engines and two cylinders on the V6, operating the engines as a V4 for improved efficiency.

GM says the new 5.3-liter has better fuel economy than the previous 5.3-liter.

In their five-year history as part of the light-duty truck lineup, sales of the hybrid versions of the Sierra and Sliverado pale next to the their gas-engine counterparts.

As of November of this year the Chevy Silverado Hybrid sold 18 units, with a year-to-date total of 422 vehicles, effectively a 50 percent decline across the year. The GMC Sierra Hybrid had markedly better November sales of 170 units, while year-to-date sales totaled 326 units.

The non-hybrid Chevy Silverado posted in excess of 30,000 units for November.

A leading motivator for any hybrid purchase is significant improvements in fuel economy compared to most vehicles with traditional engines. Yet the GM hybrid trucks aren’t drastically outpacing the gas engine trucks in efficiency, while at the same time costing more.

EPA mpg ratings for the two-wheel drive, 5.3-liter V8 engine 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 are 15 city/21 highway/17 combined on regular gas. The two-wheel drive 2013 GMC Sierra Hybrid (with 6.0-liter V8 engine) offers 20 city/23 highway/21 combined.

The hybrid Sierra starts at $42,300; the non-hybrid 5.3-liter V8 Sierra starts at $35,430, and has a 10,500-pound tow capacity versus the hybrid’s 6,100-pound tow rating.

The hybrids’ comparatively limited sales numbers reflect which type of engine GM truck buyers prefer, and GM has moved accordingly for the 2014 model year.

Potentially good news for enthusiasts of GM’s hybrid engine offerings is that for now the company hasn’t announced plans to terminate the Yukon, Tahoe or Escalade hybrid variants from their respective brands.

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