Chevy Volt to address America's school children in nationwide show-and-tell

On November 30th, hundreds of middle school students and teachers will assemble at the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, along with untold thousands of their electronically-linked peers, to take part in a giant show-and-tell webcast featuring that upcoming electric car with the built-in range extender, the 2011 Chevy Volt. While none of the students are likely to buy a Volt (or any car, for that matter) when it becomes available next year, "Today's middle school students are tomorrow's leaders," according to GM, and so they feel it is important to educate the kids about the increasing role electricity will play in personal transportation.

The assembly, which is in support of the host school's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program, will listen and watch a presentation covering the basics of electricity and how it will transform the way we drive before taking part in a question and answer period. The appearance is only one of many that the Volt will be making while it's in town for the Los Angeles Auto Show. Official press release after the break.

[Source: General Motors]

PRESS RELEASE:

The Chevrolet Volt Electric Car Stars in a Nationwide School Assembly

Middle School Students Lead the Charge From Los Angeles, but Classrooms Across the U.S. Can Participate in Live Web Cast

DETROIT, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In what may be the world's largest school show-and-tell, nearly 800 middle school students and teachers in Los Angeles - joined via the web by thousands of their peers from across the country - will interact with the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle in a Nov. 30 assembly.

The assembly, which runs from 9:40 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PST, is open to middle schools across the country and the public. Schools may register to watch the live video web cast at http://bit.ly/ChevroletVoltSchoolWebcast by 10 p.m. PST Nov. 29. Teachers who register will receive instructions on how to join the webcast and submit questions live, as well as a free lesson plan developed by Weekly Reader, a respected developer of educational materials. Classrooms that do not pre-register still may access streaming video of the assembly at http://chevroletvoltage.com.

The actual assembly is being held at the middle school campus of the Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles and supports the school's STEM program, which seeks to expose students to the work of scientists, engineers and mathematicians. The Volt will star in a series of public appearances surrounding the Los Angeles International Auto Show, which opens to the public Dec. 4.

"Today's middle school students are tomorrow's leaders, so Chevrolet is teaming up with Weekly Reader to provide a fun yet educational experience themed around electricity," said Maria Rohrer of Chevrolet. "Electricity is the new fuel of the 21st century and will help shape the future of the automobile."

The presentation from 9:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST will cover the basics of electricity, including why it's important and how this common energy source can be used to transform the way we drive. From 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PST, participants from across the country will have an opportunity to ask questions, while the Harvard-Westlake students engage in their own question-and-answer session outside around the Volt and a technical display of the vehicle's chassis.

The assembly also will be recorded for teachers who wish to share it with their students at a later date. Teachers can download the presentation and companion curriculum materials at http://weeklyreader.com, http://gm.com/education, General Motors' education web site, or at http://chevroletvoltage.com.

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended-range capability. It is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt's lithium-ion battery runs low, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the total driving range to more than 300 miles before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery. Volt production is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Pricing has not been announced.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is one of America's best-known and best-selling automotive brands, and one of the fastest growing brands in the world. With fuel solutions that range from "gas-friendly to gas-free," Chevrolet has nine models that offer an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, and offers three hybrid models. More than 2.5 million Chevrolets that run on E85 biofuel have been sold. Chevrolet delivers expressive design, spirited performance and strives to provide the best value in every segment in which it competes. More information can be found at http://chevrolet.com. For more information on the Volt, visit http://media.gm.com/volt.