First 4,400 buyers of the Chevy Volt get free home charging station

2011 Chevrolet Volt

In a similar move (actually the exact same move) as FoMoCo, General Motors announced today that first 4,400 buyers of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will be eligible for one of the free home charging stations. The program will provide the first Volt owners with a 240-volt charge station from either ECOtality, Inc. or Coulomb Technologies.

“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,” said Tony DiSalle, Product and Marketing Director for the Chevrolet Volt. “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.”

The free in-home charging stations are made possible with a grant of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Energy. To encourage U.S. citizens to buy electric-vehicles, federal grants and other funds were awarded to install more than 15,000 home charge stations. That total includes 4,400 home charge stations for Volt owners; 2,600 of those will come from The EV Project from ECOtality, and 1,800 as part of the ChargePoint America project from Coulomb Technologies.

Click here to read our first drive impressions of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, “T”-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. According to GM”s preliminary specs, the system puts out 150-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes less than 3 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 8 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries a 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 300 miles.

First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt:

All Photos Copyright © 2010 Omar Rana ““ egmCarTech.

– By: Omar Rana