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General Motors has signed a deal with the non-profitmaking Electric Power Research Institute to work on the infrastructure that will enable plug-in electric vehicles to operate in North America.

The EPRI consists of 30 major electricity supply utilities. Earlier this year it signed a similar agreement with Ford to work on infrastructure for electric vehicles specifically in the New York and New Jersey areas (see here).

The new agreement with GM was signed at therPlugIn 2008 conference at San Jose and will cover safe and convenient vehicle charging, raising public awareness and understanding of plug-in vehicles and working with politicians. There will also be work on codes and standards and on grid capability.

GM says the aim is that when the Volt, its plug-in contender, finally comes to market, buyers will be able to drive away from the showroom into a world that is ready for it.

Arshad Mansoor, vice-president of EPRI's power delivery and utilisation business, said: "This collaboration is critical in the development of standards that will lead to the widespread use of electricity as a transportation fuel."