Chevy Volts to Be Supported by Electric Power Partners
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Chevy Volts to Be Supported by Electric Power Partners
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Customer confidence in the Chevrolet Volt depends on more than the vehicle itself. Drivers need to trust the Volt as a reliable everyday car. However, that confidence also depends on dependable electricity at home.
Moreover, electric utilities play an important role in supporting EV ownership. They must provide reliable, uninterrupted power so owners can charge their vehicles when needed. Therefore, home charging becomes part of the overall driving experience.
In addition, utilities must prepare the grid for growing EV demand. Better infrastructure, reliable service, and smart charging programs can help. Consequently, strong cooperation between automakers and electric utilities will make drivers more comfortable choosing vehicles such as the Chevy Volt for daily transportation.
27 Chevy Volts to be Delivered
That’s why the first 27 Chevy Volts in North Carolina are going to major utilities under a partnership between the Electric Power Research Institute and General Motors. So General Motors and the Electric Power Research Institute have collaborated. All in a joint effort with more than thirty major utilities. For that’s across the United States. All to build trust in the Chevy Volts to be delivered across America. Especially as a reliable daily car.
Announcement of the Chevy Volts to be Delivered
This group of Chevrolet Volts was part of a larger electric transportation partnership. The venture was first announced during the Plug-In 2008 Conference. Moreover, the program received support from a $30.5 million grant through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Recovery Act Transportation Electrification Initiative.
The partnership focused on making electric vehicle charging safer and easier. In addition, it aimed to help drivers better understand plug-in vehicles and how they fit into everyday transportation.
Moreover, the project gave utilities and researchers a chance to study real-world charging behavior. That information could help improve charging equipment, grid planning, and future EV programs.
The partnership also aimed to help policymakers prepare for a larger transition. Specifically, it focused on moving more transportation energy demand away from petroleum and toward electricity.
Consequently, the Chevrolet Volt deliveries became part of a broader national effort to expand electric transportation. The timing also aligned with the opening of the Plug-In 2011 Conference, which began Tuesday.
Ultimately, the program connected automakers, utilities, government agencies, and drivers. Together, those groups could build the infrastructure and public confidence needed to support wider plug-in vehicle adoption.
Deliveries
The deliveries to electric utilities also coincide with the opening of the Plug-In 2011 conference, which begins Tuesday in Raleigh. Therefore, the timing gives utilities, automakers, and industry leaders another opportunity to focus on electric vehicle infrastructure.
In addition, Chevrolet will begin delivering the Volt to 128 Chevrolet dealers across the Carolinas in August. As a result, more consumers in the region will soon gain access to the plug-in hybrid.
Progress Energy
Moreover, Progress Energy sees the vehicles as part of a much larger transition. The company plans to study charging habits, electricity demand, and the infrastructure needed to support more plug-in vehicles.
The company is committed to developing the necessary infrastructure. Essentially to support the widespread use of electric vehicles. Especially because we believe they will save our customers money. In addition, it will reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and help protect the environment.
Edison Electric Institute
Johnson also serves as co-chairman of the Edison Electric Institute CEO Taskforce on Electric Transportation. Consequently, his comments reflect a broader utility-industry effort to prepare the electric grid for increasing EV adoption.
Ultimately, the arrival of more Chevrolet Volts gives utilities real-world data. At the same time, it gives drivers more confidence that charging infrastructure will grow alongside electric vehicle sales.
Electricity to Power the Chevy Volts
Using electricity to power vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt can reduce the auto industry’s dependence on petroleum. In addition, electric driving can help lower vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.
Consumers can also benefit from lower energy costs. Electricity generally costs less per mile than gasoline. At the time, Chevrolet estimated that electricity cost about half as much as gasoline on a per-mile basis. Moreover, the national average cost to charge a Volt was about $1.50 per day, according to Gross.
Volt owners were already showing how much electric driving could replace gasoline use. About two-thirds of the more than 4 million miles driven by Volt owners at that point came from domestically produced electricity. Consequently, the typical Volt customer was traveling nearly 1,000 miles between gasoline fill-ups.
Range
The Chevrolet Volt also offered extended-range capability. Based on EPA estimates, the vehicle provided up to 379 miles of total driving range.
For the first 35 miles, the Volt could operate on electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. Therefore, drivers could complete many daily trips without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions.
However, the Volt did not stop when the battery charge ran low. Instead, its gasoline-powered engine and generator automatically began operating. As a result, the system could extend the driving range by another 344 miles with a full tank.
Ultimately, that combination gave drivers the benefits of electric driving without the same range concerns associated with a fully electric vehicle. It also made the Volt easier to use for both daily commuting and longer trips.
Source: MEDIA GM
