Chevrolet recently announced that the Volt extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) will finally be available late next year. In California. And why not? California is the nation's largest new-car market. Not to mention the fact that we also have the most treehuggers, er, eco-friendly audience.
Puzzled about what EREV terminology means? The Chevrolet Volt is designed to drive up to 40 miles solely on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt's lithium-ion battery runs low, a gasoline-powered engine charges an electric generator to extend the total driving range to more than 300 miles before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery.
In a program that is likely to operate similar to its hydrogen-powered Equinox Project Driveway fleet, Chevrolet will be partnering with three California utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as part of an extended, real-world demonstration and research program to introduce the electric vehicles to the public. Intended with an educational and promotional agenda, the California release program expects to advance awareness of vehicle electrification and establish vehicle-charging methods to pave the way for consumer use.
General Motors is funding the program thanks to a bankroll of more than $30 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants from the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.
"It is natural that California is the lead market for Volt. Not only is it the largest automotive market, Californians are known to be leaders in adopting groundbreaking new technologies," said a General Motors spokesperson.
Three California utilities participating in the demonstration project are Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and Sacramento Municipal Utility District. They join EPRI, an independent, nonprofit research organization based in Palo Alto, California and seven other utilities in the project. EPRI's utility members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States.
As part of the research and demonstration program, Chevrolet will deliver more than 100 Volts to program participants to use in their fleets for two years. Chevrolet will also utilize OnStar telematics technology to collect vehicle performance data and driver feedback that will be reported to the DOE and used to improve customers' experiences with the new technology.
Because the Volt is designed to conveniently charge anywhere, the program also includes installing more than 500 charging stations for residential, business, and public use. (Otherwise, it wouldn't be exactly "convenient," now would it?) The charging stations will be used to learn more about installation procedures, the vehicle charging process, and to gain customer feedback on the experience. Possible charging stations could be located in place of retired telephone booths, as well as charging terminals rendered obsolete after Chevy's EV1 was removed from consumer reach.
Volt production is scheduled to begin in late 2010, and pricing will not be announced until May 2010. (Best estimates place it in the mid- to upper-30K range, before a $7500 tax credit.) The initial Volt launch markets, including California, will play a vital role in validating the retail market readiness for electric vehicles. GM will be working with key utilities across North America to prepare each regional market in advance of the retail market deployment.
For more information on the Volt, visit http://media.gm.com/volt.
Read more about the Chevrolet Volt's on-road adventures during the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show
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