Chevrolet Volt owners charging costs EcoHub

OnStar is testing a new app that will tell Chevrolet Volt called EcoHub, allows users to compare the overall home energy and from OnStar by day, month or year. GM OnStar said it hopes to make the app available for Chevrolet Volt owners in the near future.

OnStar's new app uses an energy data source from the local electric company or a smart meter company, then aggregates usage data to show owners of the high-tech sedan exactly how much energy they consume daily, monthly and yearly. EcoHub also offers information on how much that energy cost based on current rates.

“For the first time we're able to put one of our Smart Grid solutions into the hands of actual consumers, thanks in part to our partnership with Pecan Street,” says Paul Pebbles, global manager-electric vehicle and smart grid services at OnStar.

Currently the app is only available for OnStar equipped EVs and also features a “Ticker” screen that tracks national values for total miles driven. GM and OnStar initially will test the app at the Pecan Street demonstration project, a smart grid community in Austin, TX-based research, Texas.