The two companies will focus on the Shanghai metropolitan area, which has been designated China's first EV pilot city, according to the agreement, which was signed in Shanghai.

The companies will install GE charging stations at an EV demonstration zone and at GM's offices in the city. Both companies have their China headquarters in Shanghai. GE will purchase an unspecified number of Chevrolet Volts for use at its Shanghai campus, according to the agreement.

GM plans to sell the Volt, which has a range of 80 kilometers on batteries and 490 kilometers with its gasoline engine, in China this year.

The deal comes two days after GM and its Chinese partner SAIC Motor Corp. signed an agreement to develop and build electric vehicles in China. That deal will allow GM and SAIC to offer EVs that qualify for expected Chinese "green" subsidies, for which the Volt is not eligible because it is not built in China.

China's central government is offering a sales subsidy worth up to 50,000 yuan ($7,800) for plug-in hybrids, and up to 60,000 yuan for EVs.