Chevrolet Harnesses Sun to Power Volts and Dealerships

Chevrolet is harnessing the power of the sun to install solar-powered electric charging stations for its Volts at dealerships in North America. The Green Zone initiative will generate electricity equivalent to 12 full vehicle charges per day and excess electricity created will help supplement the dealership’s power 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, Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy.

American Chevrolet in Modesto, Calif., and Al Serra Auto Plaza in Grand
Blanc, Mich., are the first U.S. dealerships to complete their solar
charging capability by installing Green Zones on their property.

“The question isn’t whether to install a solar canopy, it’s where and
how many,” said Joe Serra, president of Serra Automotive. “It’s a win
for us because the electricity generated will help reduce operating
costs, and it’s a win for the environment since solar power helps reduce
our carbon footprint.”

Each canopy generates enough electricity for up to 4,500 charges per
vehicle annually. The proof of concept for the Green Zone project is
housed at the Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant, manufacturing home of
the Volt.

“The beauty of this program is that there is no capital cost required
from the dealership,” said Dave Halvorson, president of American
Chevrolet in Modesto. “Not only do we generate the solar energy to
increase our reliance on renewable electricity, but the Green Zone is a
billboard of our commitment to the environment.”

The Chevy Green Zone Initiative is part of GM Ventures’ recent
announcement to invest $7.5 million in Sunlogics, a solar panel
manufacturing and development company that will supply the panels and
install the dealer charging stations. Both American Chevrolet and Al
Serra Chevrolet partnered with Sunlogics for installation of their Green
Zones.

“Just one of these canopies provides enough renewable energy to power
two to three homes per year, or more than 25 percent of a dealership’s
energy consumption,” said Perry. “Collectively, that will be a lot of
power we are putting back into the grid.”

As part of the GM Ventures investment announcement in Sunlogics, General
Motors committed to double its solar output globally – from 30
megawatts to 60 megawatts by 2015. The company derives 1.4 percent of
its U.S. energy consumption from renewable resources.

GM is the leading user of renewable energy in automotive manufacturing.
It has three of the largest automotive rooftop solar power installations
in the United States, and the world’s largest rooftop solar
installation at its car assembly plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Additionally,
GM has started construction on a new solar field at its
Detroit-Hamtramck facility and completed construction on a solar array
on top of its Baltimore Operations facility.

Content courtesy of GM

Pretty cool stuff, right? But will it catch on with other car companies as well? Voice your opinion here!