In order to reduce energy costs, manufactures such as Nissan and Mitsubishi have started to build and install solar-powered charging stations for their electric and hybrid vehicles across the nation. As the popularity of these cars increases, Chevrolet will be the next manufacture to follow suit as they have announced the development of solar-powered charging stations for their current star, the Volt.
Under the umbrella of the Green Zone initiative, the charging stations will span across North America. They will be placed at Chevrolet dealerships with Modesto, California’s American Chevrolet and Al Serra Auto Plaza in Grand Blanc, Michigan being the first to complete the stations. The stations generate enough electricity to fully charge 12 Volts a day and up to 4,500 charges per year. Any excess electricity gathered by the stations will go to supplementing the dealership’s needs.
“The Chevrolet Green Zone will provide our U.S. dealers with added flexibility when it comes to charging their vehicles, while also reinforcing GM’s commitment to renewable energy projects,” said Chris Perry, vice president for Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy. Green Zone is a part of a $7.5 million investment into Sunlogics, the company that builds the station’s solar panels. Chevrolet hopes to its global solar output from 30 megawatts to 60 megawatts by 2015.
