Consumers Energy buying, leasing electric vehicles for company employees

Consumers Energy of Michigan announced Tuesday the company’s decision to buy or lease electric vehicles for employees instead of purchasing new sedans that rely on gasoline.

Consumers hopes to replace more than 100 sedans among its staff with electric vehicles.

“Electric vehicles are ready for the fast lane, and Consumers Energy wants to support this technology for the good of Michigan and our planet,” Consumers CEO and President Patti Poppe said. “Electric vehicles will reduce our carbon footprint, supporting our company’s Clean Energy Plan to already cut carbon emissions from our power plants in the next two decades.”

Poppe also announced that Consumers would work alongside General Motors on a pilot program to test and promote smart charging for electric vehicle owners. The two companies will cooperate on technology that allows owners to delay charging their electric vehicles at home until overnight hours. Consumers will encourage this by offering special rates for charging in off-peak hours.

“GM’s vision is for an all-electric future with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion,” Dane Parker, vice president of Sustainable Workplaces for General Motors, said. “We’re honored to have such strong partners at Consumers Energy who share our commitment to provide more sustainable solutions for everyone.”

Consumers will also put as much as $7.5 million over the next three years into encouraging electric vehicle charging station growth throughout Michigan, which would include rebates for charging stations in people’s homes and workplaces as well as along major thoroughfares.