Clean Fleet Reporthybrid & electric cars smart charged with renewable energy
Solar Powered Electric Car Charging from GE and REC Solar
REC Solar has teamed with GE Energy Industrial Solutions, a leading supplier of power generation and energy delivery technologies, to distribute the GE WattStation™ electric vehicle (EV) charger. The partnership signals the movement toward the inevitable collision of two rapidly growing sustainability movements – solar and electric vehicles – for a cleaner, more secure world.
Ten Thousand Electric Cars Reaching Freeways in San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco may be the nation’s first region with 10,000 electric cars. It could happen in 2012 for the region with 7 million people and 5.3 million vehicles. Electric utility PG&E reports that they are now charging 1,800 Nissan LEAFs and 250 Chevrolet Volt residential owners. Add to these numbers a growing number of electric car fleets that include Google, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and the U.S. Navy; 4,000 freeway-speed electric vehicles in the SF Bay Area are forecast by the end of this year.
Solar Power Charging Electric Cars
The movie Sideways added to the fame of the central coast of California with rolling hills covered with live oak, dramatic cliffs descending to the Pacific Ocean, and grapes harvested for premium wines. For electric car drivers, the central coast has another reason for fame. Rabobank, a financial leader in 48 countries and headquartered in the Netherlands, has installed a network of electric car chargers that use the solar power installed on bank branch roofs. The charging network is a perfect match for early adopters of electric cars who prefer to charge with renewable energy.
Electric Car Chargers for Central Parking System with 2,200 Locations
Central Parking System and its subsidiary USA Parking have announced the rollout of electric car charging. Central Parking, with 2,200 locations and over one million parking spaces, clients include some of the nation’s largest owners and operators of mixed-use projects, office buildings, hotels, stadiums and arenas as well as airports, hospitals and municipalities. Car Charging Group will install, own and operate the charge points. The chargers are made by Coulomb Technologies. Central Parking charge points will be part of the ChargePoint® Network.
Electric Vehicle and Smart Grid Networks
Thousands of electric cars are now communicating with owner’s smart phones, charging stations, and service networks. These EVs plug into smart grids that use network communications to charge off-peak, monitor and improve reliability. When I use my Blink EVSE to charge my Nissan Leaf, the charger sends a packet of info to the charging network every 15 minutes using Sprint. The charger is communications-ready supporting CDMA, Wi-Fi, and powerline communications.
Early Owners Love Their Chevrolet Volts
Jackson Browne told me that he has only used 8 gallons of gasoline for the 2,000 miles that he has driven his Chevrolet Volt. Jackson is famous as a signer, songwriter, and inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When it comes to oil, coal, and nuclear, Jackson knows that we are “Running on Empty.” For over 25 years, he has lived off-grid using solar power and wind energy. Now he rides on sunlight, charging his Chevy Volt with renewable energy. Only on a few long trips, has he needed a little gasoline.
Largest Solar Parking Structures Provide MW Electricity
It takes a lot of electricity to run Dow Jones, one of the world’s largest publishers and information providers. Dow Jones is now generating 3.6 MW of its own electricity with Solaire Generation Solar Parking Canopies. The Arizona VA Hospital is installing 2.9 MW of solar panels from Kyocera and REC Group covering several parking lots. Live from Intersolar Conference.
Google’s 70 Charge Stations for Employee Electric Cars and GFleet
Google has deployed more than 70 charging stations at its worldwide headquarters in Mountain View, CA. Over 100 employees who own electric cars use the charging stations, as well as the company’s growing car sharing program for Googlers (GFleet), which includes Chevrolet Volts, Nissan LEAFs and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrids. With plans for 250 more charging stations on its campus, and a goal to make 5 percent of its campus parking EV-ready, Google’s installation is the largest workplace charging installation for electric vehicles in the country.
Mitsubishi i Electric Car Can Be Reserved for $29,195
The new Mitsubishi I, bigger and with more zip for the U.S. market, can now be reserved at a low price of $29,195 that will challenge the Nissan LEAF, Ford Focus Electric, and Honda Fit Electric. Reservations can now be made, with different models and options now priced. My 15-mile test drive of the Mitsubishi demonstrated that it can handle freeways, steep roads, and tight parking spots.
3.2 Million Electric Vehicles and 4.7 Million Charge Points Forecast for 2015
A total of 3.2 million plug-in electric vehicles will be sold worldwide by 2015is forecasted by Pike Research. Annual EV sales will cross the 1 million mark for the first time during the same year. More than 4.7 million EV charge points will be installed globally by 2015. Pike Research forecasts that in the United States, the top cities for EV adoption between 2011 and 2017 will be New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Chicago
Oakland Airport Adds 15 Charging Spaces for Electric Cars
I silently guided my Nissan LEAF into space 14 reserved for electric cars at the Oakland International Airport (OAK). Already plugged in to other spaces were Chevrolet Volts, Tesla Roadsters, a converted Prius plug-in hybrid, and a Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Supporting the 15 preferred parking spaces were eight Coulomb ChargePoint Dual Level 2/1 Charging Stations.
Electric Car Public Charging Stations – Range Solution or Battle Ground?
By Tom Bartley (5/12/11). electric cars were meant to be charged at home during the off peak night time hours. Depending on a public charging station is going to be a real crap shoot. As the number of plugin cars increase, the EV drivers could grow to hate each other because of competition for a [...]
SDG&E Charges 1,000 Electric Cars with Smart Grid
San Diego Gas and Electric may be the world’s first utility to smart charge 1,000 electric cars through a smart grid. This electric utility, which services 3.4 million people, has been installing an extensive electric vehicle charging infrastructure, expanding its electricity generation to 33 percent renewable, and implementing a smart grid. In many ways, the three initiatives support each other. Over 200 Nissan LEAFs and Chevrolet Volts are charging by using the utilities smart grid.
China Plans 220,000 EV Charge Points and 2,351 Battery Switch Stations
China leads the world with over 100 million riding e-scooters, e-bikes, and light-electric vehicles. By December 2015, China plans to have 500,000 electric vehicles that can travel slow streets to fast highways. Those EV will be supported with 220,000 charge points and 2,351 battery swap stations in the nation’s latest plans. China’s 12th Five Year Plan is summarized in a new Deutsche Bank (DB) report.
Mitsubishi i Test Drive – Best Electric Car starting at $29,125
Mitsubishi has sold more electric cars than Nissan and more than Chevrolet. I can see why as I test-drive the Mitsubishi I all over Monterey. I glide in stealth mode in city stop-go traffic. I accelerate around a slow poke faster than in the Think EV. When I turn, the stability is solid. It climbs a 16 percent grade with remarkable ease. Before tax incentives, this city electric car is likely to price below $29,900, making EVs available to an expanding market.
