Free Charging Stations for 4,400 Volt Owners
Free chargers in exchange for your personal usage data.
General Motors has announced an important incentive for prospective Chevrolet Volt buyers: the first 4,400 buyers will be eligible for a 240-volt charge station, receiving home installation in certain cases. GM says that this initiative is part of a Department of Energy plan to install 15,000 such units in homes across the United States. ECOtality, Inc. and Coulomb Technologies have been identified as the two suppliers of the home charging stations.
Speaking on behalf of General Motors, Tony DiSalle, Product and Marketing Director for the Chevrolet Volt said, “Many owners will plug their Volt into a normal 120-volt electrical outlet, charge overnight and drive to work in the morning using only battery power. For Volt owners who want to install a faster 240-volt charge station, we expect the Department of Energy project to save $1,000 and $2,000.”
Volt Incentives
This is good news for a product that will also carry a $7500 federal tax rebate and additional rebates of up to $5000 in select states. One of the concerns analysts have had about the Volt is that its costly near $40,000 sticker price would keep customers away.
GM has hinted recently that the Volt’s price may come in lower, but they have yet to confirm same. With a charging station included in the deal, GM is offering yet another incentive for a car that will run mostly on electricity before a back up 1.4L engine is called on to extend its range.
Electric Objectives
GM says that the U.S. Department of Energy projects contain two objectives: installing charging stations in residential, workplace and public areas to encourage consumers to purchase electric vehicles; and studying electric vehicle usage to optimize future electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Yes, that means that the DOE will keep tabs on how you use your unit, allowing federal eyes to see your personal electrification usage at work.
Collected data will include your average charge time, energy usage and the starting and ending time of the charging process. Data will be analyzed by the U.S. Department of Energy to understand how electric vehicles are driven, how and when they are charged, and ultimately what is required for widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Volt Chargers
All Chevy Volt buyers will receive a portable 120-volt charge cord with their purchase, and will have the option of installing a 240-volt charge station available from Chevrolet. For those buyers living within the program cities, they will be able to apply for a free 240-volt home charging station through the Coulomb or ECOtality programs if they are willing to share their charging information. Additional consumer information on eligibility requirements and the application process will be available when the Volt goes on sale later this year.
Source: General Motors
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