Taking a break from the relentless drumbeat of news about Tesla Motors, its stock offering this week, and the latest model of its electric two-seater, the Roadster 2.5--we bring you a story about the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric vehicle.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Freedom Drive route map on the morning of July 2, 2010

2011 Chevrolet Volt Freedom Drive route map on the morning of July 2, 2010

2011 Chevrolet Volt late-night recharging in Little Rock, Arkansas, during July 2010 Freedom Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt late-night recharging in Little Rock, Arkansas, during July 2010 Freedom Drive

Specifically, a Volt is now en route from Austin, Texas, to New York City, scheduled to arrive on July 4th, Independence Day, as part of a publicity stunt Chevy is calling the "Freedom Drive."

The entire route adds up to 1,776 miles--get it?--and the Volt reached Little Rock, Arkansas, early this morning.

While drivers Nick Richards and Rob Peterson slept, the somewhat grimy car recharged its 16-kilowatt-hour battery pack, giving it 40 miles of electric range to kick off today's leg.

You can follow the entire trip, including a near-real-time map of the Volt's route, on the Freedom Drive website.

And if you want to win a Volt Freedom Drive t-shirt (and happen to be somewhere along their route), take a photo of the Volt on its travel and upload the image to the Volt Facebook page.

The Freedom Drive was announced (and commenced) yesterday as part of a package of Volt announcements, including production volumes, dealer requirements, and more information for interested buyers.