General Motors is still recovering from its declaration of bankruptcy in June of 2009, and reorganization across the company is now resulting in increased community outreach at GM's transmission production facilities in White Marsh, north of Baltimore.
Allison Transmission/GM Powertrain of White Marsh was selected in early 2010 as the site of its electric motor production plant, with the first electric vehicle and hybrid transmission hardware set to come off the line there in 2013. In advance of groundbreaking on the $246 million, 40,000 square-foot building in May of this year, employees and executives including plant manager Bill Tiger are taking part in activities like a wildlife habitat cleanup that took place near the existing plant on April 7. Fifth-grade students from Chapel Hill Elementary School in nearby Perry Hall learned about hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles under development by GM as well as GM-Baltimore Operations (GMBO) efforts to reduce energy intensity through efficient lighting and waste-to-energy conversion systems.
As Bill Tiger observed after the event, "It went really, really well -- we got 200 trees planted for a wildlife habitat and the kids worked their way through some recycling exercises seeing what you can and can't recycle. They seemed really excited and really engaged."
In addition to wanting to come back to see the trees grow, Tiger says the students displayed an impressive understanding of advanced propulsion technology, which includes electric vehicles, hybrid EVs, and fuel cell vehicles. "They had a good grasp on it -- I asked, 'Who knows what biofuel is?' and they said, 'French fry grease!'"
Baltimore-area residents will be able to get a look at the existing plant and see the groundbreaking of the hybrid drivetrain facility, as well as the cars and trucks slated to be produced there, at an open house at GMBO in White Marsh on May 18.
Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Bill Tiger, Plant Manager, General Motors Baltimore Operations/Allison Transmission