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Automakers, utilities say they're ready for plug-in electric vehicles

By Rob South, WKAR News

LANSING, MI – The Michigan Public Service commission heard from automakers and utility companies Monday about plans to roll out new plug-in electric vehicles.

Automakers have been working with electric power companies to make sure the vehicles don't overtax the power grid as they become more popular.

Anthony Earley is the Chairman of DTE Energy. He says the state's power grid has plenty of capacity to meet the overall demand. But Earley says utilities will have to make sure local communities are up to par.

"Local neighborhoods, if you get a lot of vehicles installed in a local neighborhood it's going to tax the local infrastructure and so we have to understand what that's going to be and how do we reinforce the local infrastructure," Earley says.

The federal government, auto companies and Michigan's largest utility companies are offering incentives to people who buy plug-in electric vehicles. General Motors started producing the Chevy Volt this fall and expects to sell at least 15,000 cars this year.

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