“Chevrolet is committed to a successful Volt launch, and to achieve that, we need to work with our utility partners to introduce our customers to electric vehicles and the infrastructure that will support them,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “So far, we have invested more than $700 million in the U.S. to reinforce our leadership in this new technology.”
Chevrolet has previously announced that Volt sales will start simultaneously in California, Michigan and Washington D.C., with other markets to follow. In addition, Chevrolet is partnering with utility providers in each lead market and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on development and demonstration programs designed to introduce customers to electric vehicles and to establish vehicle charging programs.
Con Edison, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison Inc., provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York.
Chevrolet will deliver more than 100 Volts to 10 utilities across the U.S. – including Con Edison – as part of the extended demonstration program. The overall program includes 500 charging stations that will be installed for residential, business and public use. They will be used to learn more about the installation process, vehicle charging and to gauge customer feedback.
The program is made possible with a grant of more than $30 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended-range capability. It is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is depleted, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range if there is no access to an electrical outlet to recharge the battery, providing peace of mind by eliminating range anxiety.
Testing in real conditions
The engineering fleet of Chevrolet Volt pre-production vehicles has already amassed more than a half-million test miles under various climates and road conditions. More than 20 crash tests have been conducted at various speeds and angles in preparation for start of production later this year.
Smartphone application takes technology beyond the battery
Chevrolet is expanding the Volt ownership experience with a smartphone (Droid by Motorola, Apple iPhone and BlackBerry Storm) application by OnStar that gives Volt owners 24/7 connection and control of vehicle function and OnStar features remotely.
Through Volt’s mobile application, drivers can set or check charging, manually set grid-friendly charge modes for off-peak times, pre-condition the interior temperature using electricity and not gasoline, check EV range and more.
Other driver-friendly technologies include touch-sensitive controls on the center stack and screen; a fully digital interface that allows two-way interaction, personalization and access to information; and real-time feedback that provides guidance on how to drive more efficiently.
Chevrolet is one of America’s best-known and best-selling automotive brands, and one of the fastest growing brands in the world. With fuel solutions that range from "gas-friendly to gas-free," Chevrolet has nine models that offer an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, and offers two hybrid models. More than 2.5 million Chevrolets that run on E85 biofuel have been sold. Chevrolet delivers expressive design, spirited performance and strives to provide the best value in every segment in which it competes.
