Laying the grid for the electric car (photos)

This week the Chevy Volt electric car was unveiled, a vehicle that GM hopes will draw buyers looking for an oil-less mode of transportation.

With a 40-mile electric range, however, potential drivers will need to always be on the lookout for their next sip of juice. Manufacturers call this "range anxiety" and are hoping a new grid of charging stations will lay the foundation for emission free vehicle sales.

The city of San Jose, Calif., on Thursday unveiled a commitment to the electric vehicle, installing the first of 1,600 charging station locations in the Bay Area as part of the ChargePoint America program to enable the spread of the electric car.