The vote by workers at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis came as the United Auto Workers union seeks big raises and other gains in contract talks with the three automakers.
As extreme weather events lead to more power outages, the carmaker said it would equip all its electric vehicles to act as sources of emergency power.
The United Auto Workers leader vowed to be tougher than his predecessors in contract talks. His initial demands attach big numbers to that promise.
G.M. and other automakers will jointly spend at least $1 billion to build a North American network of electric vehicle chargers.
The companies will jointly spend at least $1 billion to build a North American network in an effort to persuade more people to buy battery-powered cars and trucks.
The company is earning big profits on gasoline cars and trucks but is struggling to catch up to Tesla in the fastest-growing segment of the auto market.
Elon Musk’s electric car company is facing intensifying competition from newer Chinese automakers and established Western car companies.
Sales of electric vehicles have slowed recently partly because prices of some models like the F-150 Lightning had risen a lot.
Some energy experts say battery-powered vehicles will increasingly help keep the lights on and support electric grids, rather than straining them.
The U.A.W., with a more confrontational leader, aims to win back wage and benefit concessions and insulate jobs from the rise of electric vehicles.