01-22-2008: Chevrolet to Provide Gas-Friendly Vehicles during GRAMMY Week

First Ever Gas-Friendly GRAMMY Fleet to Transport the Music Industry's Hottest Talent; Chevy Volt Concept Brings

LOS ANGELES – A fleet of gas-friendly vehicles from Chevrolet will bring an eco-friendly presence to the 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards on Sunday, February 10. As the “official vehicle of the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards,” Chevrolet will provide both Hybrid and FlexFuel E85 ethanol SUVs to transport talent to the Awards telecast and other GRAMMY Week events. In addition, Chevrolet will “electrify” the red carpet with a show-stopping display of the extended-range electric vehicle Chevy Volt Concept car.

This marks the first time a “fuel-friendly” fleet of vehicles this size has been partnered with, and branded for a major awards show. The GRAMMY Fleet of Chevy vehicles will consist of a mix of 100 Tahoe Hybrids and FlexFuel E85 ethanol Tahoe and Suburban SUVs. GRAMMY presenters, performers and VIPs will not only arrive at their destinations in a fuel-efficient way, but also in grand style with each vehicle being customized with exterior GRAMMY badging.

“This is an unprecedented venture for an automotive manufacturer to provide a fleet of so many ‘fuel-friendly’ vehicles at a major awards show,” said Jay Flaherty, regional divisional marketing manager for Chevrolet in GM’s Western Region. “We’re delighted to celebrate our partnership with the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards by providing fuel-friendly transportation for the music industry’s hottest talent.”

The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid – which was recently named Green Car Journal’s 2008 Green Car of the Year® – is one of two all-new hybrid models for 2008 (the other being the Malibu Hybrid sedan) featuring the affordable GM Hybrid System.

The Tahoe Hybrid boasts vastly improved fuel economy over its gasoline-only sibling, thanks in large part to a state-of-the-art hybrid system using GM’s all-new Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT), as well as Active Fuel Management and specific aerodynamic aids and lighter components. The Tahoe Hybrid 2WD achieves EPA city fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon, equal to the city fuel economy of the four-cylinder 2008 Toyota Camry.

Biofuels such as E85 ethanol have tremendous potential to help offset the world’s growing energy demands, and General Motors offers more FlexFuel E85 ethanol-capable models than any other brand (GM currently has 2.5 million FlexFuel E85 ethanol vehicles on the road). FlexFuel E85 ethanol vehicles – like the Tahoe and Silverado – can run on either gasoline or E85 ethanol – a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline – or a combination of both.

In addition to helping us reduce petroleum use and promote energy independence, E85 ethanol fuel produces fewer greenhouse gases during the combustion process and can enhance engine performance. It is a cleaner fuel made today from mostly U.S.-grown biomaterial, such as corn. But researchers are working on broadening the supply of ethanol by turning other non-food plant materials such as lumber mill waste, switchgrass, lawn clippings and even garbage into what’s called cellulosic ethanol. Unlike corn-based ethanol, the cellulose in the products used to make cellulosic ethanol must be pre-treated and then broken down into sugars before they can be fermented, a step called cellulosis. The technology required to do this is under development.

The Chevy Volt Concept sedan is powered by GM’s E-Flex electric propulsion system and exhibits the potential to greatly reduce trips to the gas station for many commuters, as well as reduce C02 emissions. More than 75 percent of drivers in the United States commute fewer than 40 miles a day, and for these drivers a fully-charged Chevy Volt will use no gas and produce no tailpipe emissions. It is easily recharged by plugging into a common 110-volt electrical outlet.

A battery-powered, four-passenger vehicle, the Chevy Volt uses a gas engine to create additional electricity to extend its range. The electricity to operate the Volt can come from a number of energy sources – including renewable ones such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biofuels – or from traditional sources such as natural gas, clean coal, nuclear or even gasoline.

The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Feb. 10, 2008 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. The show is scheduled to be broadcast live by the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered on the Internet at GRAMMY.com.