![GM shuts down production at its Factory Zero EV plant after a fire breaks out [Update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Fire-GMs-EV-plant.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
GM shuts down production at its Factory Zero EV plant after a fire breaks out [Update]
A fire at GM’s Factory Zero EV plant Tuesday night caused the automaker to halt production. No employees or firefighters were injured, but the building was evacuated as a precaution. The fire was non-vehicle related.
Fire causes production halt at GM’s Factory Zero EV plant
Update: GM has resumed EV production at Factory Zero as of Wednesday morning. Detroit Fire Department and GM are still investigating the cause of the fire.
The fire broke out inside the plant Tuesday afternoon, sparking an evacuation. GM spokesperson Tara Kuhnen told the Detroit Free Press that there was an incident involving a fire at Factory Zero.
She confirmed everyone was safe and that GM was still “investigating the situation” and would share more details when they were available. Kuhnen added that the “second shift has been canceled for the night.”
An update around 7:30 pm read, “We can confirm that a fire occurred today at Factory Zero, and all employees are safe. The fire was not vehicle related, occurred near a shipping dock area.”
Detroit Fire Chief James Harris told the Detroit Free Press that the fire department called a third alarm late Tuesday to get the fire under control. Harris said about 60 firefighters and 18 trucks arrived on the scene.
Around 6:15 pm, Harris said, “No firefighters or civilians or GM employees were injured, but we did evacuate the building for precaution and it’s still smoldering.”
Detroit’s Fire Chief confirmed “It wound up being some lithium ion batteries.” This is the second incident at GM’s Factory Zero EV plant recently. A report from Oct 25 from the Detroit Fire Department stated there was “an autonomous electric car fire” inside the plant.
Although the sprinkler system helped extinguish the fire, the report claimed the ventilation system was malfunctioning. It didn’t allow smoke to exit the factory efficiently.
Kuhnen clarified, “Our investigation into the incident on October 25th indicates all safety systems operated correctly. We learned that the cause was a non-battery related component that has since been corrected.”
Electrek’s Take
GM’s Factory Zero is the automaker’s first dedicated EV plant. This is where GM builds the all-electric Chevy Silverado WT and GMC Hummer EV.
The Silverado EV RST edition will join next year, with availability expected in the first half of 2024. Another electric truck, the GMC Sierra EV, will follow shortly after. It’s expected to be available next summer.
Although it was a severe fire at the factory (three alarm), nobody was injured and it was non-vehicle related. The fire occurred near the shipping dock area. We’ll keep you updated on the latest.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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