In December 2009, word surfaced that there would be an application for the iPhone and Blackberry phone that would interface with the Volt to allow the user control over when the car charges and to offer other information about the vehicle. The BlackBerry and Motorola Droid applications have now been unveiled with full pictures and information.

The app is from GM/OnStar and reportedly looks very similar to the instrument panel on the Volt. The app is the first to use the OnStar communications infrastructure to allow the driver to monitor the car's battery pack. The app will allow direct control over the vehicle and will allow the driver to check the current state of the vehicle charge and to set up automatic notifications.

The notifications will be a good thing for forgetful drivers as they can be set to remind you to plug the car in to charge. The vehicle will know if it is plugged and will not send the reminder is already connected. The app can also be set to notify the driver if their car becomes unplugged for any reason such as in a power outage.

Using the app the car can also be set to charge at grid-friendly times when the rates for electricity are at their lowest. In warm or cold climates, the ability to use the app to precondition the car for comfort is a great feature. This will allow drivers in the 105-degree Texas summers to cool the car off while it is plugged in to save battery power. The iPhone app demo will reportedly be available tomorrow. The images here are for the Motorola Droid app.