Chevrolet Volt owners "charging on sunshine"Metroland MediaVolts from solar energy." Carguide MagazineAccording to OnStar data, many Voltsare going up to 1,000 miles betweenMark Hildebrandt developed an inter-gasoline fill-ups.est in clean energy in the 1970s."The majority of miles driven by VoltOver the years, it became his voca-customers are powered electrically bytion. He owns a company that installsthe Volt's battery," said Cristi Landy, Voltsolar panels, so it's only natural that hemarketing director.counts on the sun to create the electric-The Detroit-Hamtramck assemblyity to charge his Chevrolet Volt.plant, home of the Volt, is already using"I made the switch to renewable ener-sunlight to charge Volts before they aregy a while ago, and thus with solarloaded for transport to dealerships. Theenergy, I can power my house, chargeplant has a 20kW Solar Carport thatmy Volt and pump energy back into thehouses 10 Volt charging stations.grid, which I get credit for," saidAdditional charging stations are plannedHildebrandt, owner of Sunventrix infor other locations around the plant.Saline, Mich., and one of the first VoltThe Volt's extended-range capabilitypurchasers in the state.offers a total driving range of up to 379"As more Volts are sold, I believe themiles, based on EPA estimates.Chevrolet is finding owners of the Volt extended range electric car are using solar power to chargedemand for solar charging stations willFor the first 35 miles, the Volt cantheir vehicles.increase," he said. "I have spoken to adrive gas- and tailpipe emissions-freehandful of Volt owners in Michigan thatusing a full charge of electricity stored inWhen the Volt's battery runs low, aly operates to extend the driving rangeare really interested in charging theirits 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. gas-powered engine/generator seamless-another 344 miles on a full tank.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 1, 2011 20