SRS selected for National Electric Vehicle Pilot Program

July 31, 2014

The first electric car and charging station at the Savannah River Site have arrived, not long after the Department of Energy-Savannah River and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions were selected to participate in a national electric vehicle pilot program.

The U.S. General Services Administration leased a 2014 Chevrolet Volt to SRS at a reduced rate and provided a charging station at no additional cost, with DOE-SR and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions sharing the cost of its installation, according to the contractor.

The effort is part of the organization’s Plug-in Electric Vehicle pilot program, which was launched in 2011 after President Barack Obama announced the goal to put 1 million plug-in electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

It supports the Enterprise SRS clean energy strategic initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emission through alternative energy projects, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions reported.

The Chevy Volt has a 380-mile range on a full charge and full tank of gas. The vehicle solely relies on the battery for the first 38 miles before the battery becomes depleted, and a 1.4 liter gasoline-powered engine runs a generator that charges the battery.

It takes approximately four hours to fully recharge, which requires about 60 cents worth of electricity.

A number of the Volt’s innovative tools help drivers remain aware of the amount of electricity allocated to power the vehicle, including a mobile app that notifies users when the vehicle is fully charged or when it is disconnected from the charging station.

“This electric vehicle has been a joint effort between DOE-Savannah River, the General Services Administration and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, and furthers these important relationships,” said Chris Goodman, fleet manager at DOE-SR. “The Savannah River Site welcomes the opportunity to pursue these new technologies that will help us meet our alternative fuel use goals and reduce our carbon footprint.”