American multination corporation, General Motors (GM), has pledged to run entirely on renewable energy by 2050.
The company operates in 59 countries and owns 12 brands including the likes of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Vauxhall, and Buik.
GM’s move is part of the RE100 initiative, led by The Climate Group, in partnership with CDP as part of the We Mean Business coalition.
Amy Davidsen, US Executive Director of The Climate Group, said:
This bold and ambitious commitment from General Motors will undoubtedly catch the attention of the global automotive industry.
“GM has already saved millions of dollars by using renewable energy, and like any smart business that recognizes an investment opportunity, they want to seize it fully.”
Last year, GM consumed nine terawatt hours of energy to build its vehicles and power its buildings.
The company also plans to increase efficiency while moving to renewable energy, and says that it saved $5 million last year from using renewable energy.
It claims that over the years, renewable energy has saved them over $80million.
Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO of GM, said:
Establishing a 100 percent renewable energy goal helps us better serve society by reducing environmental impact.
“This pursuit of renewable energy benefits our customers and communities through cleaner air while strengthening our business through lower and more stable energy costs.”
The company is currently installing 30 megawatts of solar facilities in China, adding to its 22 facilities that already have renewable energy technology installed.
Despite GM’s optimism, Greenpeace has criticised the announcement, calling it “woefully inadequate”.
Earlier in the week, GM announced the Chevrolet 2017 Bolt EV, an electric car with a range of 238 miles once it is fully charged.
What’s more, its battery life is eight years or 800,000 miles on a limited battery warranty.
A Level 2 Charger will add 25 miles of range and take one hour to charge.
A DC Fast Charger will add 90 miles and take 30 minutes to charge.
Alan Batey, GM North America president, said:
Chevrolet showed the world the production version Bolt EV earlier this year and in a few short months we’ve moved from that vision to a reality.
The Bolt EV is a game changer for the electric car segment and it will start to become available at Chevrolet dealerships later this year.”
The vehicle has been described as a “game changer” by car reviewers.
