General Motors and OnStar will launch a pilot program with regional utility companies. This will link Chevrolet Volts to a “smart grid.” This grid will monitor and manage battery charging. One goal of this program is to reduce charging costs to customers.

GM said hundreds of utility employees with Volts, will participate in the program. The automaker wants to see “how intelligent energy management can maximize EV charging efficiency and minimize the electric bill for EV drivers.” OnStar developed software that can help a utility company monitor and manage electricity used to charge the Volt’s battery pack when plugged into the grid.

GM said this data “will give the utility deep insight into where and when EVs are charged and demand response, which allows the utility to reduce peak demand by shifting EV charging to non-peak hours.”

Source: InsideLine

Both can be test driven at your local Chevrolet dealers, but you better get their quick. Dealers can’t seem to keep either vehicle around for long. Luckily both are made right here in the USA – so getting more inventory in takes no time at all.

Last month, Chevrolet reported gains for its combined new model line. A 54% increase in the new car category. “March sales demonstrated our newest models continue to win over customers,” said Don Johnson, GM’s vice president of U.S. sales operations. “Vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze and Equinox put us in great position to benefit from consumer’s increasing desire for fuel-efficient vehicles.”

Chevrolet posted 148,197 vehicle sales in March, an 11% increase over the same month a year ago. 18,018 of those vehicles were Cruze sedans. This number includes an 18% gain in retail sales. Chevrolet has sold 416,505 vehicles, representing a 37% spike in retail sales, and 23% increase in total sales.

Via: Auto Guide

CR also figures the cost of recharging the Volt to about 5.7 cents a mile for electric, and 10 cents a mile for gas. Yet a Toyota Prius, which receives 50 miles a gallon, costs 6.8 cents a mile to operate. Prius costs half as much as a Volt. Looks like Chevy needs to get back to the drawing board for the next generation Volt.

Source: USA Today

Chevrolet is planning two more plug-in hybrids based on the hybrid car. They won’t be released in 2011, but possibly as early as 2012. This according to Daniel F. Akerson, speaking on behalf of GM in an interview with the New York Times.

According to The Truth About Cars: “GM might add a hatchback and a crossover, all using the same plug-in technology as the Volt. A plug-in version of the Cadillac SRX is ‘likely.’” Akerson said this hatchback and also the crossover could indeed be ready for 2012 or 2013.

The New York Times remains confused: “It was unclear whether that was the crossover to which he was referring or whether there would be a fourth Volt-based model. G.M. executives said they could not elaborate on Mr. Akerson’s comments.”

Source: TTAC

DETROIT – Chevrolet today announced the world debut of the Aveo RS show car at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. It features a European-inspired hot hatch look designed to appeal to young enthusiasts, and hints at the next-generation Aveo.

Longer, wider and more spacious than the current production Aveo, the Aveo RS showcases the car’s upscale-looking design cues both inside and out, and presents the many personalization options potentially available on the next-generation car.

“We hope the Aveo RS show car will demonstrate that we are as serious about redefining the Aveo and its place in the small-car segment as we were about reinventing the Malibu,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager.

The Aveo RS show car, finished in electric Boracay Blue, wears global Chevrolet design cues such as the dual element grille, round taillamps and fender flares, but designers turned up the attitude on the show car with low openings and a lower mouth trimmed in a combination of brushed and polished aluminum. Outboard fog lamps are integrated into an exaggerated brake-cooling inlet that flows into the front fender flares, creating an aggressive-looking face.

Exposed headlamps, with their brushed aluminum structural surround, are inspired by the designers’ affection for motorcycles. The sleek side profile is characterized by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors with amber-colored turn signal indicators carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile. At first glance, the car actually looks like a three-door hatch because the rear door handles are discreetly located in the “C”-pillar area.

“The Aveo RS show car demonstrates how progressive design can inject personality into a small car,” said Michael Simcoe, executive director, North American Exterior Design. “We want customers to see it and have an emotional reaction to it.”

No performance-minded car earns its street cred without large wheels and tires. The Aveo RS show car’s wheels are 19-inch, five-spoke with a gun metal metallic finish Chevrolet logo. The wheel openings reveal large Boracay Blue brake calipers.

The rear of the show car continues the sport theme, with an integrated spoiler that flows from the roof, a center-mounted exhaust and chrome exhaust tips. The exposed motorcycle-inspired rear taillamps feature tinted aluminum housings and a discreet Bowtie logo.

The Source: Jalopnik

After you switch from electric to gasoline or “flex fuel” motor, the engine maintains what is left of your charge. Once you’ve passed the 40 mile range of the ion battery your regular engine completely takes over. According to Chevrolet, this is done so that you get the most out of each battery – drain it almost completely, and recharge it back to full at your home or a power grid (aka, fuel stations of THE FUTURE!) – It’s kind of like draining your cell phone battery when you get a new mobile device, then charging it full and draining it again – it gives the user’s battery a longer lasting life span. Great…cars that charge like cell phones. Does this mean that after a year your Chevy Volt won’t hold a charge anymore?