Chevrolet announced today that it is installing solar-powered electric charging stations at two dozen dealerships in North America as part of its Green Zone initiative.
The new units will generate enough electricity to fully-charge 12 Chevrolet Volts a day, while excess electricity created will be used to power the dealership, supplementing their power needs. According to the Detroit automaker, each canopy generates enough electricity for up to 4,500 charges per vehicle annually.
“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, California which, along with Al Serra Auto Plaza in Michigan will be the first two dealerships to become a part of the Green Zone initiative.
“The question isn’t whether to install a solar canopy, it’s where and how many” added 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.”
The Chevy Green Zone is a part of GM’s plan to invest $7.5 million in Sunlogics, a solar panel manufacturing and development company that will manufacture and install both the solar panels and the charging stations.
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