The EcoHub app, which will be commercially available for all Volt owners in the near future, is being tested at the Pecan Street demonstration project in Austin, Texas. Part funded by the United States Department of Energy and supported by General Motors, this five-year project is testing a number of energy-conscious technologies. 

Among these is a smart grid for electricity, which stores energy at off-peak times to boost output during periods of heavy demand and prevent blackouts.

EcoHub will collect information from a smart meter in the house, and from other Volt users, giving a clear idea of running costs. It will also contain a “ticker” displaying national figures for mileage driven on electricity and the resulting fuel savings from Volt owners in the United States.

Paul Pebbles, global manager, electric vehicle and smart grid services at OnStar, said: ‘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. Down the line, we hope this app can be a beneficial tool for all drivers of electric vehicles.’