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First Chevrolet Volt EVs in France bought by U.S. Embassy

2011-11-30

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Paris.  The U.S. Mission to France has announced the purchase of four Chevrolet Volts, three for use by the U.S. Embassy in Paris and one for use by the Consulate in Lyon in the framework of the "Greenwheels" Project, a public-private partnership between Embassy Paris, the Consulate in Lyon and GM/Chevrolet. On November 30, Ludovic Dirand, CEO of Chevrolet France handed-over the keys to Ambassador Charles Rivkin for two of the Chevrolet Volts that are now part of the U.S. Embassy in France's fleet. The other two Volts will arrive in early 2012.

The U.S. Ambassador to France, Charles Rivkin, said, "This purchase is in keeping with President Obama's call to set an example by 'greening' the federal government. At U.S. Mission France we are constantly seeking innovations to make our activities more environmentally sustainable."

As part of its sustainability effort, the U.S. Mission has embarked on a program that will greatly reduce energy use in the more than 50,000 square meters of property the U.S. government owns and operates in Paris and throughout France.

This partnership also underscores a unique page in Franco-American history: Swiss-born Louis Chevrolet moved to France as a small boy and in 1911 he moved to the U.S. where he co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Company. 100 years and 209 million vehicle sales later, Chevrolet is the 4th biggest automobile brand in the world.

The Volt allows for the U.S. embassy staff to travel up to 80 km (MVEG) emission-free on electricity stored in the Volt’s 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery.

"The Volt extended-range electric vehicle is the start of a new era of personal mobility. It allows customers to transition to zero-emission driving without range anxiety," adds Ludovic Dirand, Managing Director of Chevrolet France.

The Chevrolet Volt, the first electric car with extended-range capability (E-REV), has an extended range of more than 500 kilometers. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline-fuelled engine generates electricity to power the electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery.

The battery can be fully charged within four hours by plugging the vehicle's on-board charge system into a standard 230V household outlet. If the driver does not have access to a power outlet after 500 kilometers, he can just refuel the car and keep driving.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is General Motors' largest global brand with annual sales of about 4 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. It is the fourth biggest global car brand in terms of sales and also one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Chevrolet cars combine passion, bold design and practicality. They provide outstanding value for money. After re-launching the brand in Europe in 2005, Chevrolet more than doubled its sales to over 500,000 in 2008. In 2010, Chevrolet grew its market share in Europe to 2.5 percent, selling 477,194 cars. Chevrolet has a network of more than 2,700 dealers and service points in Europe. The Chevrolet line-up includes the Spark city car, the small Aveo, the compact four-door Cruze, the Captiva SUV and the legendary Corvette sports car. In 2011, Chevrolet is launching seven new cars: the all-new Orlando family van, the new Captiva SUV, the Corvette Grand Sport Coupé, the all-new five-door and four-door Aveo, the five-door Cruze, the Camaro coupé and convertible and the award-winning extended-range Volt electric car. Chevrolet's biggest markets in Europe are Russia, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Turkey. Established in the U.S. by Swiss émigré Louis Chevrolet in 1911, the brand is celebrating its centenary in 2011. More information on Chevrolet can be found at www.chevroleteurope.com or media.chevroleteurope.com.