New Chevrolet Volt App Tracks Charging Costs

OnStar is testing an app for the Chevrolet Volt that tells owners how much it costs to charge the vehicle's battery.


The EcoHub app will be tested and available first to residents of the Pecan Street demonstration project, a smart grid living community in Austin, Texas, General Motors said on Friday. The company said it plans to make the app available to all Volt owners in the "near future."

The new app works by pulling overall home energy usage data provided by a utility or smart meter company. The app also collects Volt charging information from OnStar subscribers and Volt owners who opt in for EcoHub.

"Based on electricity rates, the data is broken down to show the cost of both total energy usage and Volt charging energy use," said GM.

The EcoHub app will include a "Ticker" screen that shows drivers the national values for Total Miles Driven, Total EV Miles Driven and Gallons of Fuel Saved.

The Ticker screen lets drivers "see they are part of a national effort to reduce fuel use by contributing to the growing number of electric miles driven," said GM.

Owner Loyalty

Check your mailbox and find your $1,000 gift certificate. Use your Owner Loyalty Certificate to save on the eligible 2009 or 2010 Chevy of your choice. Combine this offer with most current incentives for even greater savings. It's a great time to own a Chevy. Here's why:

The 2010 Malibu, a Consumers Digest "Best Buy" two years in a row,2 which offers better highway fuel economy than a comparable Toyota Camry or Honda Accord3

The 2010 Traverse, a Consumers Digest "Best Buy", is the most fuel efficient 8-passenger crossover4 with an EPA est. 24 MPG highway

The 2010 Silverado 1500, a Consumers Digest "Best Buy" and from Chevy, the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickup on the road,5 features the best fuel economy of any full-size pickup. Better than Ford F-150, Dodge Ram or Toyota Tundra6

Best of all, almost every Chevy comes with our 100,000-Mile/5-Year7 Transferable Powertrain Limited Warranty plus Courtesy Transportation and Roadside Assistance Programs. It's the Best Coverage in America. And with OnStar®,8 whether you need help in an emergency, you're lost or stranded, the assistance you need is a button push away. For more information, call 910-791-2424, or go to http://www.jeffgordonchevy.com/. Use your Owner Loyalty Certificate from January 5, 2010, through February 1, 2010, and start the New Year in a new Chevy from Jeff Gordon Chevrolet.

1 Eligible owners must own/lease a 1999 or newer model year Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, HUMMER or Oldsmobile. Owner Loyalty Cash excludes 2010: Chevy Camaro, Corvette ZR1, Equinox; Buick LaCrosse; GMC Terrain; Cadillac SRX Crossover; HUMMER H1, H2; and 2009: Chevy Corvette ZR1, Kodiak (except Chevy Kodiak C4500); GMC TopKick (except GMC TopKick C4500); and all HUMMER vehicles. Offer good from 1/5/10 through 2/1/10. Take delivery from 1/5/10 through 2/1/10. Not available with some offers. See dealer for details. 2 The Best Buy Seal is a registered trademark of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license.3 2010 Malibu with 2.4L 4-cyl. engine and 6-speed automatic transmission EPA est. 33 MPG hwy. 2010 Camry with 2.5L 4-cyl. engine and 6-speed automatic transmission 32 MPG hwy. 2010 Accord with 2.4L 4-cyl. engine and 5-speed automatic transmission 31 MPG hwy.4 Based on GM Mid-Utility Crossover segment and EPA est. MPG Traverse FWD 17 city, 24 highway.5 Chevy, the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickups on the road. Dependability based on longevity: 1981–July 2009 full-size pickup registrations. 6 Based on GM Large Pickup segment and Silverado Hybrid (limited availability) with EPA estimated MPG 21 city, 22 highway; and 2010 Silverado XFE (available to order) MPG 15 city, 22 highway. MPG city/highway for Ford F-150 2WD with 4.6L V8 15/21; Dodge Ram 1500 with 5.7L V8 14/20; Toyota Tundra with 4.6L V8 15/20.7 Whichever comes first. See dealer for details.8 Visit onstar.com or call 1-888-4ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) for details and system limitations.

The Cub Scout Automotive Safety Patch Program

Safe Kids Buckle Up and Chevrolet have teamed up with the Boy Scouts of America to teach Cub Scouts and their parents and caregivers about safety in and around vehicles. On Monday May 19th Jeff Gordon Chevrolet hosted their Sake Kids Buckle Up campaign. Over 20 cub scouts attended with their siblings and parents. These hands-on educational activities are conducted by Safe Kids Coalitions and designed to educate families with older children - ages 7 to 10 - about being safe inside and outside of moving and parked vehicles. After the Scouts successfully completed all of the educational stations (spot the tot, how hot a vehicle gets, safety trunk latch, seat belt test and Onstar) they were presented with their Automotive Safety Patch.