Reuters' James Pethokoukis yesterday explored how carmakers and utilities are preparing for the necessarily closer ties that they will have as EVs go mainstream. What are your thoughts on the state of the relationship between the two industries, and how do you see this relationship evolving?
Seriously, transportation and the electrical grid have been completely different systems. With the electrification of transportation comes the merging of infrastructures.
I recommend that GM, GE and IBM get together, for example, to take advantage of what is coming. There will be new companies and numerous mergers in the decades to come. Welcome to GBM.
Companies will first off ask for gov subsidies to help address the increase on user consumption. Then sister companies will ask for higher subsidies in relation to their production of zero emissions energy (solar/wind/etc).
I don't forsee the auto companies having any closer of a relationship with the power company. Microsoft didn't partner up with Dominion power here in VA when they released their operating system. Power companies provide kilowatts of power to consumers - thats it.
Where you will see the power companies involved is in the recharging infrastructure, which is an area automotive producers want to stay 100% away from. They build cars and that is what they should focus on. Leave the network to companies like BP partnering with Duke energy - etc.