Plug-in cars may offer Michigan a lift

Speakers open forum with visions of jobs in hybrid development

Christina Rogers / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Bringing plug-in electric vehicles to the road will require forging collaborations across industry sectors and the establishment of a new supply chain that could spin off new work and jobs for Michigan's ailing economy.

That's the consensus of speakers Monday night at the kick-off of "The Business of Plugging In," a conference dedicated solely to the advancement of plug-in electric vehicles.

"We talk about public utilities. We talk about cars. But we haven't really talked about them together," said David Cole, chairman of the Automotive Research Center in Ann Arbor. "What we're going to be seeing is a merging of these two industries."

The sold-out, three-day conference is expected to attract more than 600 visitors to the MotorCity Casino-Hotel. Sessions will cover topics touching on the development and deployment of plug-in electric vehicles and the necessary infrastructure.

"Over the next few days, you'll explore some of the most viable solutions for moving plug-in electric hybrids from the laboratories to the road," said DTE Energy CEO Anthony Earley Jr.

But Earley stressed the importance of power companies working with the automakers to make the transition to plug-in electrics as seamless as possible.

Thomas Stephens, global product development at General Motors Co., said the technology will necessitate an entirely new supply chain to manufacture batteries, electric motors and electronics. He said the Chevy Volt -- GM's plug-in electric slated to hit the market next year -- has about 196 suppliers nationwide. Conference Key speakers include Gen. Wesley Clark, former supreme allied commander for NATO, and Ford Motor Co. Chairman Bill Ford Jr.