The Chevy Volt has been named as the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year. This is one of the most prestigious rewards given in the auto industry, and goes to show that electric cars have now become mainstream and widely accepted.

This car is powered by electricity without the need to plug it into an outlet. The Chevy Volt can do what normal cars can, and even surpasses them in some areas. It has three unique driving modes: normal, sport, and momentum. Normal mode is the most energy efficient setting, utilizing electricity to power the electric drive. Sport mode will sacrifice some energy efficiency in order to provide more acceleration. Lastly, there’s the Momentum mode that conserves the battery and is ideal for long, steep slopes.

GM gives you total control of your Chevy Volt with the OnStar mobile app. Through it, you can check the battery level, tire pressure, available range, remote locking system, and even remote start to heat or cool the interior of the car to your desired temperature. You can also set up an alarm to alert you when it’s time to charge your Volt.

Electricity is a cleaner source of power compared to fossil fuels. As energy generating technology improves, the amount of carbon output will decrease as well. The reduction in emissions due to electric powered vehicles, along with the improvements in electricity generation, will definitely make the Earth a better place for everyone.

Chevrolet is committed to make Earth greener and not just in building fuel-efficient vehicles. Its Chevy Carbon Reduction program’s goal is to reduce the company’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 8 million metric tons.

To make the Chevrolet Volt even greener, the company announced that it will build a photovoltaic solar power system at its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. This would be the largest solar array in southeast Michigan.

As well, General Motors partnered with DTE Energy for this 516 kilowatt project. Once completed, it will have the ability to generate up to 15 megawatts of power that will be connected to the power grid of southeast Michigan. This solar power project will save GM around $15,000 a year for the next 20 years. DTE Energy will be investing $3 million into the project.

GM will also improve the energy efficiency of its factories by making some lighting and equipment upgrades, as well as providing automating shutdown of plant machines. Savings in costs might only be beneficial for the company, but the carbon reduction will be for the betterment of everyone on the planet.