GM invests $5m in Powermat for Volt

Tired of cables cluttering your car? General Motors thinks its a big enough problem to invest $5 million in the wireless charging start-up Powermat and equip it on the Chevrolet Volt in 2012.

For those unfamiliar with inductive charging, users can place their smartphone, MP3 player or portable gaming device on a special panel and an electromagnetic field transfers energy to the battery to charge the device. Powermat was one of the first companies to commercialize the technology and GM has signed a one-year exclusivity agreement to supply its vehicles with the system. What vehicles the General plans to install the system remains to be seen, but the Volt will be the first out of the gate.

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GM Gives Free Home Charger to First 4,400 Buyers of Chevrolet Volt

The buyers of General Motors Co.'s first 4,400 plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt vehicles are eligible for free home-charging stations. The 240-volt charging stations will be provided by two companies and are part of a federally funded project overseen by the Energy Department.

The stations will allow owners to recharge their vehicles faster. Chargers included in the federal program will be networked, allowing the Energy Department to study electric vehicle charging and usage, and ultimately to understand what is required to bring more electric vehicles to market, GM said.

“Many owners will plug their Volt into a normal 120-volt electrical outlet, charge overnight and drive to work in the morning using only batter power,” said Tony DiSalle, product and marketing director for the Chevrolet Volt. “For Volt owners who want to install a faster 240-volt charge station, we expect the Department of Energy project to save between $1,000 and $2,000.” In total, the government is awarding the federal grants to help install more than 15,000 home and public charging stations. The extended range electric Volt is set to go on sale by November.

Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois' Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.phillipschevy.com. View or specials!