Chevrolet Volt Electric Car Stars in a Nationwide School Assembly

The assembly, which runs from 9:40 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PST, is open to middle schools across the country and the public. Schools may register to watch the live video web cast at http://bit.ly/ChevroletVoltSchoolWebcast by 10 p.m. PST Nov. 29. Teachers who register will receive instructions on how to join the webcast and submit questions live, as well as a free lesson plan developed by Weekly Reader, a respected developer of educational materials. Classrooms that do not pre-register still may access streaming video of the assembly at http://chevroletvoltage.com.

The actual assembly is being held at the middle school campus of the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles and supports the school’s STEM program, which seeks to expose students to the work of scientists, engineers and mathematicians. The Volt will star in a series of public appearances surrounding the Los Angeles International Auto Show, which opens to the public Dec. 4.

"Today’s middle school students are tomorrow’s leaders, so Chevrolet is teaming up with Weekly Reader to provide a fun yet educational experience themed around electricity," said Maria Rohrer of Chevrolet. "Electricity is the new fuel of the 21st century and will help shape the future of the automobile."

The presentation from 9:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST will cover the basics of electricity, including why it’s important and how this common energy source can be used to transform the way we drive. From 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PST, participants from across the country will have an opportunity to ask questions, while the Harvard-Westlake students engage in their own question-and-answer session outside around the Volt and a technical display of the vehicle’s chassis.

The assembly also will be recorded for teachers who wish to share it with their students at a later date. Teachers can download the presentation and companion curriculum materials at http://weeklyreader.com, http://gm.com/education, General Motors’ education web site, or at http://chevroletvoltage.com.

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 runs low, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the total driving range to more than 300 miles before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery. Volt production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Pricing has not been announced.

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 three 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. More information can be found at http://chevrolet.com. For more information on the Volt, visit http://media.gm.com/volt.