Thanks to a promotion by General Motors, the first 4400 people to buy the Chevrolet Volt will get the option of a 240-volt charging station installed in their home, completely free.

If you’re not following the car scene that actively, the Volt is an upcoming plug-in electric car that’s claimed to be able to run 40 miles on electric power alone before having to switch to an alternative energy source.

The car’s not exactly a hybrid though, it’s actually marketed as an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), as the gas engine generator isn’t tied to the transmission directly. As for the charging stations, their installation will be covered by a grant from the Department of Energy themselves, under the Transportation Electrification Initiative funds.

The installation will be performed by Ecotality, or Coulomb Technologies. There’s one catch though – your privacy will be interrupted a little bit. Part of the agreement involves allowing the Department of Energy to monitor your use of the station, in order to determine the habits of electric vehicle owners.

[ Source: CNET ]