As the large scale introduction of electric vehicles edges ever closer, this week’s Plug-in 2010 conference and exhibition in San Jose, California, saw several infrastructure companies appear prominently and make announcements.
Let’s take a look at each of the major players and update you on their progress:
- Aerovironment: Already selected by Nissan North America to supply electric vehicle home charging stations and installation services for the introduction of the LEAF, the company has also been selected by Plug In Carolina to install public electric vehicle stations in seven South Carolina cities.
- Better Place: Best known for its battery swap model it was displaying level two charging stations at the event.
- Coulomb Technologies: Has a number of industry partners including Leviton, Siemens and Aker Wade and has established a ChargePoint Network which provides station owners with a complete set of business applications and drivers with electric vehicle charging applications.
- Eaton Corporation: Its quick chargers can recharge the i-MiEV to 80 per cent capacity in just 25 minutes. It displays its electric vehicle charging stations at the event.
- Ecotality: Took the opportunity to unveil a flagship electric vehicle charging station known as Blink. The unit includes a networked touch-screen that allows drivers to choose the most convenient time to charge and to programme the device for when rates are at their lowest.
- Evatran Plugless Power: Has now developed a level two inductive charging system and plans a commercial roll-out in 2011. It is expected that vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF will be able to use the system with an adapter.
- Ingeteam: The Spain based company has manufactured its first EVSE systems.
- Leviton: Has now developed the evr-green home charging station line and is the largest privately held global provider of electrical wiring devices.
- Liberty Plug-Ins: Provides levels 1-3 charging stations with metered parking with customers paying for both parking and electric vehicle charging at a pay station which then generates an authorisation code printed on the customer’s receipt. The customer then returns to the vehicle and enters the code into the charger and plugs in the connector. The process is complete when either the charge time is elapsed or when the car reaches maximum charge.
- Schneider Electric: Its solutions will include Square D smart charging stations and smart grid technology including level I and II stations in residential settings; level II in commercial settings; and fast charging for customers needing a quick charge.
