GM, PTT partner to develop alternative energy

U.S. automaker General Motors (GM) and Thailand-based PTT Plc. have agreed to enter into a partnership to cooperate on developing advanced alternative energy in Thailand and other ASEAN nations, a report said. One goal of the partnership is for GM and PTT to examine the feasibility of the market for alternative energy and the benefits and infrastructure requirements of expanding its use in Thailand’s transport sector and in locally built GM vehicles. GM and PTT will consider further collaboration, including research into the promising field of cellulosic ethanol and other non-food crops as well as into the expansion of biodiesel sources; the use of algae as a source of hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel fuels; the development of CNG bi-fuel, dual fuel (DDF) and other dedicated products; and the development of low-cost hybrid, fuel cell and diesel engine technology for Thailand and the ASEAN region. ”Bringing our organizations together to work on a comprehensive and integrated automotive energy strategy for Thailand will be invaluable to the country’s transport system,” said Prasert Bunsumpun, president and chief executive of PTT. Steve Carlisle, the president of GM’s Southeast Asia Operations, said that companies such as GM and PTT should take the lead in providing solutions that are too complex for any single company or country to address on its own. (August 19, 2008)