Annapolis, MD – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D) today signed two bills into law that will support advanced vehicle propulsion technology and help spur early consumer acceptance of electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt.

The Maryland legislation includes two important consumer incentives:

1)  Access for plug-in electric vehicles to high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of passengers. This legislation will take effect October 1, 2010 and last for three years.

2)  A $2,000 excise motor vehicle tax credit for the purchase of a plug-in electric vehicle. Consumer’s will be able to take advantage of this incentive at the point of sale and can combine the $2,000 with an existing $7,500 federal tax credit. The tax credit applies to vehicles titled in Maryland between October 1, 2010 through July 1, 2013.

“This important tax credit not only helps promote the use of cleaner, more energy efficient vehicles throughout our State to help our environment, but it’s an important economic development tool as well,” said Governor O’Malley.  “We’ve set a bold goal of creating 100,000 new green jobs over the next several years, and investments like this new electric vehicle tax credit helps us build towards that green infrastructure that GM and others are leading the way on in Maryland.”

“Consumer incentives such as access to HOV lanes and tax credits make a real difference in the market place and can drive consumers to adopt new technologies,” said Tom Stephens, Vice Chairman, GM Global Product Operations. “GM commends Governor O’Malley and the state of Maryland for recognizing the important role these new vehicle technologies and the Chevrolet Volt will play in addressing the energy and climate priorities of the state and our country.”

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended range capability that can be a family’s primary car.  The Volt is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is depleted, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range if there is no access to an electrical outlet to recharge the battery, providing peace of mind to the consumer.

The Washington D.C. metro market is one of three key markets – along with California and Michigan – where Chevrolet will begin selling the Volt.  Each market has progressive local and state government leaders and utility partners.  Volt production begins later this year.

To find out more about the Chevrolet Volt, please contact our Pohanka Chevrolet dealership in Chantilly, VA at 888.235.8742. Or stop by our Chantilly Chevy dealership, we are conveniently located at 13915 Lee Jackson Hwy, Chantilly, VA 20151.

To find out more about Pohanka Chevrolet, please visit our website www.pohankachevrolet.com

Chantilly, VA drivers should be excited to know that GM’s newest car, the Chevy Volt, will be safer and easier to find than ever.

GM is showing off its new electric car this week at Google I/O — Google’s annual developer conference in San Francisco — in honor of the Chevrolet Volt’s new Android app.

Soon Chantilly drivers will be able to use the Android phone (or iPhone) to have GM locate a car in case it’s stolen or to find where it was parked. GM will be collecting data on the car — tire pressure, fuel economy, the state of its charge, whether one forgot to plug it in — and send updates to the owners phone.

Chantilly, Virginia drivers will be able to use their phones to schedule a charge, ideally at night when power prices are lowest,  and, with the proper security clearance (a pin), remotely start their car. That way the car will be warmed up when ready to go and battery power won’t be wasted, which in the Volt will carry for the first 40 miles.

There’s enough software in the Chevy Volt to give people who worry about hacking pause. GM OnStar’s Nick Pudar said that while he believes these researchers committed “a serious crime,” he understands their point and GM takes security seriously.

One area where GM is being cautious is voice recognition, he said — it has to be good enough that drivers aren’t distracted. Addresses are easier to handle than points of interest because they’re more concrete.GM is also consolidating all the different voice recognition and bluetooth and other applications it’s used over the years to make its car systems work better together.

The Volt is due in the fall and is likely to get a good test because it may sell for under $40,000, according to sources close to GM. That would make it one of the most affordable electric cars so far.

To find out more information about the Chevy Volt, please contact our Chantilly Chevrolet dealership at 888-289-7441 or stop in! Chantilly Chevrolet is conveniently located at 13915 Lee Jackson Hwy Chantilly, VA

For more information about Chantilly Chevrolet, please visit our website at www.pohankachevrolet.com