NFPA and Chevrolet Provide 10,000 firefighters and first responders with virtual electric safety vehicle training

The National Fire Protection Association

QUINCY, Mass. — The National Fire Protection Association (http://www.nfpa.org/) (NFPA) and Chevrolet (http://www.chevrolet.com/) and OnStar (http://www.onstar.com/web/portal/home) are pleased to announce that more than 10,000 firefighters and first responders have completed virtual electric vehicle safety training (http://www.evsafetytraining.org/Training). The online training, hosted by NFPA, became available in April 2011 and features an inside look at the newest technology and safety systems on the all-electric 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

The collaboration with Chevrolet and OnStar is part of NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training project. In addition to the online training, the nationwide project began the classroom-style, train-the-trainer sessions at fire academies across the country this summer.

"Through our work with Chevrolet and OnStar, we have been able to reach 10,000 firefighters and first responders with important information in a very short time period," said Andrew Klock, NFPA's senior project manager for the program. "The number of hybrid and electric vehicles on the road continues to increase. Whether firefighters and first responders take the online training or participate in our classroom-based electric vehicle training, we want to ensure they all are equipped with necessary information about this new vehicle technology."

"The launch of the Chevrolet Volt virtual training has continued the momentum generated by the live Chevrolet OnStar First Responder Training conducted in the classroom," said Leslie Kilgore, program manager, Chevrolet OnStar First Responder Training Tour. "In working with NFPA to create the virtual equivalent of the live training sessions, we aimed to provide technical information that was relevant, timely and met the same core learning needs of first responders in dealing with the advanced technologies present on the Chevrolet Volt. The fact that over 10,000 first responders have taken the training to date, and the numbers continue to grow daily, encourages our training team that first responders have unlimited access to the Volt information at their convenience and pace. We're proud to have led the pack advanced technology training with the Chevrolet Volt."

To date, state-level trainings have taken place in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon and Wisconsin, and several additional trainings are on the calendar for the remainder of this year. The goal is for all 50 states to take part in the training by the end of 2012.

Months of research and development between Chevrolet and OnStar training specialists, engineers, firefighters and subject matter experts associated with NFPA went into the creation of the virtual training. Firefighters and first responders who use the online training will have access to an interactive training session, including videos, virtual trainers and a variety of downloadable resources about the technology and inner workings of the Chevrolet Volt.

To take part in the Chevrolet/OnStar online training, visit www.evsafetytraining.org/Training. For more information and resources about NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training, and to sign up for upcoming trainings, visit www.evsafetytraining.org.

About NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training Project
NFPA's Electric Vehicle Safety Training project (http://www.evsafetytraining.org/) is a nationwide progrm to help firefighters and other first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States. The NFPA project, funded by a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, provides first responders with information they need to most effectively deal with potential emergency situations involving electric vehicles.

About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet (http://www.chevrolet.com/) celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high-quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers gas-friendly to gas-free solutions, including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies, including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown.