Green Technology

Plugless Power and Sears have partnered to offer installation of wireless (hence the name Plugless) EV car chargers for homeowners.  “Aftermarket installations are available now for … Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt electric vehicles, with retrofits for other electric vehicle makes and models coming soon.”

Plugless charging greatly simplifies EV car charging … see video below … the car is driven to the charging “pod” on the garage floor and there is no plug needed!

Sears will install and provide ongoing support services and maintenance.  Sears will also provide these services commercial fleets.

“Sears installation network technicians will be trained and certified on the wireless charging systems … ”

See

Via:  Plugless Power™  LINK

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Oil soaked booms from BP’s Gulf oil spill are being recycled into Chevrolet’s electric vehicle polymer-based components for the Volt.  …

…   “The parts, which deflect air around the vehicle’s radiator, are comprised of 25 percent boom material and 25 percent recycled tires from GM’s Milford Proving Ground vehicle test facility.

The remaining is a mixture of post-consumer recycled plastics and other polymers. 

GM worked with several partners throughout the recovery and development processes.”   …

Via General Motors: Chevrolet Volt Components.

A view of the value chain for GM parts where recycled materials are integrated into the supply.  …

Lucent Polymers.

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General Electric announced that they would purchase 25,000 EV by 2015.  This is the largest EV purchase announced so far and will get GE closer towards their goal of having half their global fleet being EV by 2015.  

The plan is to buy 12,000 Chevy Volts (General Motors) starting in 2011 and then buy from other manufacturers as they are brfought to the market.

GE will initially purchase 12,000 GM vehicles, beginning with the Chevrolet Volt in 2011, and will add other vehicles as manufacturers bring them to market. By 2015 GE will convert at least half of its global fleet of 30,000 vehicles and will partner with its fleet customers to deploy a total of 25,000 EVs.

GE's Jeffery Immelt says ..." Wide-scale adoption of electric vehicles will also drive clean energy innovation, strengthen energy security and deliver economic value.”"

Via:  GE  LINK

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The auto marketplace has been eagerly waiting official pricing for the Chevy Volt - an all electric auto.  Unlike hybrids with a gas engine that provides additional HP for motion the Volt engine does not directly drive the wheels but recharges the battery.

Pricing is approx. $41,000 before a federal tax credit of $7,500 resulting in $33,500 to the consumer.

" ... uses gas to create its own electricity. ... run on a pure electric charge for up to 40 miles ... gas and emissions free. ... uses a range-extending gas generator that produces enough energy to power it for hundreds of miles on a single tank of gas. "

Via:  Chevrolet  LINK

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US Department of Energy expands The EV Project with an additional grant that adds two new cities, LA and DC, and extends the free home charger offer to include new owners of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF electric vehicles.  The EV Project started in October, 2009 to understand the use of electric vehicles and the effectiveness of the supporting infrastructure through technology trials.  …

…   “The EV Project will deliver nearly 15,000 residential and commercial chargers to 13 cities in five states and the District of Columbia.

The mission of the Project is to evaluate the use of electric vehicles and charging systems in diverse geographies and climates, then to use that information to build a foundation that will optimize adoption of electric vehicles nationwide.

With this expansion, ECOtality's EV Project, already the largest electric vehicle infrastructure project ever undertaken, will provide:

• an additional 2,600 home chargers for owners of the Chevrolet Volt;
• another 1,000 chargers for the zero-emission Nissan LEAF electric vehicles; ”   …

Via EcoTality: EV Project (Release, PDF).

Chevy Volt.

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ChargePoint America’s free home and public electric vehicle charging stations will be deployed by Coulomb Technologies as part of an accelerated project within a government initiative.  The project plan is targeting installation of over a thousand charging stations by year end and the balance by the third quarter of 2011.

…   “The ChargePoint America program will provide nearly 5000 charging stations to program participants in nine regions in the United States: Austin, Texas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Fla., Sacramento, Calif., the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, Redmond, Wash., and Washington DC and is a strategic partnership with three leading automobile brands including, Ford, Chevrolet and smart USA.”   …

Via Coulomb Technologies: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (Link).

The electric vehicle charging infrastructure is being funded by the Dept of Energy’s Transportation Electrification Initiative .  The charging stations will be deployed in the nine targeted metropolitan areas of the US.

Businesses can apply for a public charging station here.

Individuals can apply for a home charging station here.

The general public can recommend a public charging station be installed at specific locations.

ChargePoint is ready for tracking by iPhone users (iPhone App).

Technology behind the charging stations is integrated to drive efficiency into the electric vehicle infrastructure.  RFID cards will support quick payments and processing.  SMS and email will notify owners when charge is complete through the Chargepoint Network.  Smart grid integration will optimize the charging load to get best pricing.

ChargePoint America will provide 4,600 public and private ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations by October 2011.  What do the levels mean?: The level of the charging refers to the voltage used by the charging station. In the US, standard outlets are at 110 – 120 volts. All Level I charging is done at this voltage.

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