EV Charging Station Near You

By Stephen Williams

Through the decades the automobile has spawned dozens of cottage industries—the drive-in movie, the car hop on roller skates, the car wash and, of course, the ubiquitous filling station with its unmistakable gas pumps.

Enter the EV (electric vehicle) charging station, the filling station of the future: no pumps, just plugs.

Owners of cars that use electric power in one form or another—cars like Chevy’s Volt, which combines a battery and a gas-powered generator—can now drive coast to coast, or from Maine to Florida, or just about any place in between in the United States, without fear of “range anxiety.” The 2013 Volt’s total driving range on a full battery charge and a full tank of gas is an EPA-estimated 380 miles*; on a full battery charge alone it’s an EPA-estimated 38 miles**.

The U.S. Department of Energy is the driving force (pardon the pun) behind collective efforts to pinpoint nearly 4,000 electric charging stations with public access across the country with the list growing daily as the DOE assembles data retrieved by its National Renewable Energy Laboratory and updates the primary list twice a month.

In many states, plug-in-vehicle drivers also have access to charging stations at libraries, shopping centers, hospitals and businesses. This infrastructure is quickly expanding, providing drivers with the convenience and confidence they require.

Niketa Kumar, a spokesperson for the DOE in Washington, told us that the department has partnered with several industry electronics companies, including Google, Tom Tom, Best Buy, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Coulomb, “to improve collection and analysis of public electric charging station data. With the support of more than 80 public and private sector organizations,” she said, “including charging equipment manufacturers, installers and charging networks; vehicle manufacturers, Internet and GIS companies, and major consumer goods retailers, we are working to provide consumers with consistent, up-to-date information about the EV charging stations in communities nationwide.”

*Fuel saved is based on this approved formula: Miles per gallon = [Difference in Total Miles Driven in kms (current-previous) * 0.621/ Difference in lifetime fuel used *0.264]. Fuel Avoided = (Difference in Total Miles/ Official MPG for U.S. passenger cars) — (difference in Total Miles/ Miles per gallon).

The DOE also offers other information for EV owners and those considering an EV or plug-in—including mapping services—at its Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center site. While the Energy Department does not itself offer smartphone apps to help drivers locate charging stations, a variety of applications are being launched to ease the process. For example, Coulomb Technologies Inc. lists which ChargePoint stations are available, in use or out of service, all in real time.
Among the EV location apps for the iPhone—as well as for the iPod touch and the iPad—is Xatori’s free PlugShare (available on the iTunes site), which allows users to type in an address or zip code to find stations on the PlugShare map. So where does the “Share” come in? Well, the app also lists ordinary folks—the PlugShare community—who will offer EV users the opportunity to plug in to their home outlets to recharge.

Of course, the worry of running low on electric juice doesn’t faze drivers of the Volt. It’s electric when you want it, gas when you need it. If the battery runs low, the Volt automatically transitions to a unique gasoline range–extending capability.

Chevrolet currently offers an eight-year/100,000-mile limited warranty*** on the Volt’s battery pack. See your local Chevy dealer for details, or download the entire Volt warranty from Chevrolet.com/volt

- Courtesy of Chevrolet.com

Kudos

Congratulations Shottenkirk team for more rave reviews!

"This is the third vehicle we have purchased from Shottenkirk. We have been very satisfied with the service we have received from both the sales staff and the service staff over the past few years."
- PeterHoffelmeyer

"When we got to Shottenkirk we were looking for a family vehicle. We have 2 kids and needed the room! Travis was amazing he treated us like family. He interacted with kids and included my wife. He was fantastic! They worked with us after hours to make sure everything was right! My dad bought from Shottenkirk I now have bought from them and will recommend to family and friends to head on over. The dealership that treats you like family!!! Kudos" - Meyerfam

If you would like to see these reviews and others, click here: http://bit.ly/111AGYb 

Symptoms and Diagnosis

If your vehicle has a case of the shakes, take a look at one of the possibilities that could be the cause.

Symptoms that might indicate such an engine-related case of the shakes include the following: 

• Shudder or jerking occurs during acceleration
• Staccato shaking, as if over a highway "rumble strip," within a specific speed range
• Car starts and drives fine for a while, but later begins to shake

These symptoms could be signaling that it's time for a new set of spark plugs. If the plugs are fine, it could be that the spark plug wires need to be checked (are they connected in the proper order?) or replacing.

Lastly, a dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter can starve the engine of needed oxygen or fuel, respectively. So be sure to replace them at the manufacturer's recommended intervals.

Our vehicles are full of reciprocating, rotating parts that have to fall within certain measurements, or tolerances, in order to perform properly.

If an axle gets bent -- which is actually quite easy to do in a collision or other mishap -- it will create a jostle of a ride afterward. With this problem, the vibrating often picks up in intensity the faster you drive.

A related problem would be that the driveshaft also needs inspection. This rapidly spinning part transfers engine power to the rear axles and wheels in rear-wheel drive vehicles. If it's bent, shaking may result.

Worn-out constant velocity (CV) joints fall under the same category. If the "boots" -- those rubber, accordion-like coverings around the ends of the drive axles -- are intact, clamps are secure, and no lubricant is seeping out, chances are they're not the problem. But if the boots are torn, that means dirt and dust and road filth is getting in and damaging the joints. For front-wheel drive cars, toasted CV joints mean you'll be buying new drive axles, too.

- Courtesy of How Stuff Works 

Kudos

Congratulations Jake for another rave review!

"We purchased a 2013 Malibu Everything was explained so we could understand everything. And Jake and our finance guy was stuck there until 8:30 finishing up with paperwork. There was no complaining at all about the store was closed. They only worried about us as customers. Excellent guest service and I am loving my new car." - fan88nascar

If you would like to see this review and others, click here: http://bit.ly/111AGYb

Fun Fact Friday

It’s Fun Fact Friday and with that we bring you Chevrolet history! 

On this day in 1953, workers at a Chevrolet plant in Flint, Michigan, assemble the first Corvette, a two-seater sports car that would become an American icon. The first completed production car rolled off the assembly line two days later, one of just 300 Corvettes made that year. 

– Courtesy of History.com

10 Standard Airbags

Cruze was the first car in its class with 10 standard air bags, and there's still no other car in its class that offers more. Helping to protect you and your passengers are frontal side-impact and knee air bags for the driver and front passenger. This is the best in its class!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCVOfn68k1I&feature=share&list=PL19CFF0D0E9DED54B

Kudos

Congratulations Herb on your outstanding recognition!

"I recently purchased a 2009 Chevy Malibu from Shottenkirk and had a great experience. Herb Miller was friendly from the start and made it easy for me to make the purchase that I wanted. They worked with me to figure out what worked for my budget." - Adamfeller11

If you would like to read this review and others, click here: http://bit.ly/111AGYb