Priced by SPX Service Solutions at $490 before installation, Chevrolet’s “Voltec” 240V home charging unit is one of several 240V home charging units that will be offered for sale by SPX Service Solutions, a national provider of home charging installation services and equipment.
The Voltec 240V home charging unit can charge the Volt’s lithium ion batteries from depleted to charged in about four hours, compared with 10 hours with the standard 120V charge cord that plugs into a household outlet.
Installation of the Voltec 240V charging unit is estimated at $1,475 but can vary based upon electrical requirements.
In addition to Chevrolet’s Voltec unit, SPX will sell a variety of home charging stations and manage all aspects of installation for Volt owners, including the home survey, installation, permitting, Department of Energy and utility coordination, and identification of available programs and incentives for reduced charging rates.
Chevrolet, OnStar and NFPA Begin Electric Vehicle Safety Training Tour
Chevrolet and OnStar, in a joint effort with The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), kicked off the first in a series of electric vehicles safety training sessions that will take place this fall in cities across the country.
First responders participated in a three-hour program to prepare for emergency situations involving electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle with extended-range capability, available in select markets late this year.
The training hosted in Auburn Hills was the first on this fall’s tour, which will also make stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, New York and Washington, D.C.
“These training sessions provide a valuable opportunity for first responders to prepare for the introduction of this new vehicle technology,” said Chevrolet Safety Director Gay Kent. “The tour allows us to extend our training and education to first responders across the country. Our goal with this program is to help public safety personnel become as comfortable working around electric vehicles as they are with conventional vehicles today.”
Safety trainers delivered presentations covering topics specific to electric vehicles such as power shut-off procedures, lithium ion battery details, locations of high-strength steel and cut points for extrication. In addition, a Volt – recently used during an extrication exercise – was on-site for hands-on training for first responders.
Chevrolet and OnStar worked with the NFPA to develop this program to ensure firefighters and first responders are equipped with information and resources regarding electric vehicles.
“With the Chevrolet Volt and other electric vehicles about to hit the streets, it is important to know that first responders have all the information they need about this technology,” said Andrew Klock, NFPA’s senior project manager for this initiative. “First responders have a long history of successfully adapting their response to new vehicles and equipment in order to protect the public, as well as themselves.”
The collaboration with Chevrolet and OnStar includes the co-development of safety resources, including web-based training materials, an extrication video and shared resources for instructor-led safety presentations.
To find more information about the electric vehicle training series, and to register for upcoming sessions, visit: www.evsafetytraining.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=136&URL=Events
NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international, nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education.
NFPA’s Electric Vehicle Safety Training project is a nationwide program to help firefighters and other first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The NFPA project, funded by a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, provides first responders with information they need to most effectively deal with potential emergency situations involving electric cars.
