3Feb

Stanford pioneering a wireless electric highway

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Stanford pioneering a wireless electric highway

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Stanford researches may have solved the problem of range anxiety by wireless charging technology that could one day create an electric highway.

Wireless recharging already is used by some electric vehicle charging stations to fill up batteries without cords or plugging into an outlet. MIT helped pioneer this technology and spun it off into a wireless charging startup, WiTricity. However, Stanford researchers improved on this concept and devised a way to transmit 10 kilowatts of electric power across a 6.5-foot distance with minimal energy loss. By overcoming transmitting electricity across a significant distance, researchers will make it possible to pave a highway with wireless conduits that can provide addition power to EVs and let them operate indefinitely.

(more…)

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28Jan

First Solar-Powered Electric Car Charging Stations Open in Sofia, Bulgaria

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First Solar-Powered Electric Car Charging Stations Open in Sofia, Bulgaria

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This month, A1 Co., Ltd. and BIES Ltd. opened the first set of solar-powered electric car charging stations across Sofia, Bulgaria. Built as simple structures, each station simply uses solar panels to collect solar energy and a special module for electric cars to connect to the batteries. While the number of electric cars in Bulgaria are still very few, according to experts, a boom in the purchase of electric vehicles is expected this year — particularly due special incentives that will be given by the Bulgarian government.

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5Jan

Interesting Solar-Powered EV Charging Stations

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Interesting Solar-Powered EV Charging Stations

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We’ve covered solar-powered EV charging stations in the past several times, but I don’t think we’ve ever shared these interestingly designed solar-powered EV charging stations:
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2Jan

Leaf-Shaped Lotus Electric Vehicle Charger Doubles as a Solar-Powered LED Streetlight!

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Leaf-Shaped Lotus Electric Vehicle Charger Doubles as a Solar-Powered LED Streetlight!

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Springing up from the ground like a large leaf, the Lotus is a solar-powered electric vehicle charger that doubles as an LED streetlight and a sheltered bench. Perfect for parks and parking areas alike, the Lotus features a 2.8 KW photovoltaic surface, built-in LED lights, and a waterproof Scame electrical outlet that can be used to charge an EV.

(more…)

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28Dec

6 Months of Free Electricity Offered with Plugless Power Reservation

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6 Months of Free Electricity Offered with Plugless Power Reservation

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Evatran, which produces Plugless Power, a wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging system, opened its online reservation system last week and announced that it is offering a $150 rebate card for up to 6 months of free electricity to customers who use the system.

“The Preferred Customer Group will allow Evatran to understand its focus areas for product rollout and follows the recent news of the installation partnership with Sears Home Services(TM),” Evatran commented.

“The incentive is open to the first 500 Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt reservations, and joining the Preferred Customer Group by reserving a system requires no upfront financial commitment.” (more…)

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15Aug

Ecotricity Rolls Out the World’s First Wind Powered Car Charger

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Ecotricity Rolls Out the World’s First Wind Powered Car Charger

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Ecotricity, how we love your innovative and awesome ways. Not content with pioneering electric highways and eco-friendly supercars, the UK based renewable energy company has created the world’s first wind turbine-powered post for charging electric vehicles.

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3Aug

In-Road Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Breakthrough Yields 90% Efficiency

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In-Road Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Breakthrough Yields 90% Efficiency

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Utah State University researchers have made a breakthrough in the quest to make in-road electric vehicle chargers practical for the real world, managing to wirelessly transmit 5 kilowatts of electricity across a 10-inch gap with 90% efficiency. That’s huge for a technology that has struggled to gain traction because of inefficiencies and difficulties bridging enough of a gap to make inductive chargers useful in highways, where chargers are a significant distance away from car batteries and need to deliver large amounts of electricity in a short period of time.

(more…)

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7Jul

Ford Focus’ At-Home Charging Station Charges EVs in Less than 4 Hours

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Ford Focus Electric owners can now charge up their vehicles without leaving their homes! In a partnership with Leviton and Best Buy, consumers will be able to purchase their own in-home charging stations for personal use. The cool and compact charging station was recently introduced at Ford’s booth at CES 2011.

The tiny charging station is about the size of a backpack, and currently runs for about $1,500 at Best Buy. Easy to install, each station comes with the assistance of Best Buy’s Geek Squad, who provides service from sale to installation. The 240-volt system should not interfere with typical home electric wiring, but if so, the Geek Squad will work out any issues, in addition to any servicing and repairs required. Small and sleek, the system hooks into an outlet instead of having to be hard-wired into a circuit breaker. The bright blue and white unit attaches to the vehicle via a simple cord and small plug.

Linked in with the car’s 6.6 kilowatt charger, Ford Focus Electric owners can fully charge their vehicles at home in three to four hours — this is half the charge time of their competitor the Nissan Leaf. Charging at home also saves consumers cash, avoiding the issue of over-charging at public commercial charging stations.

Source: inhabitat

 

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15Jun

Oregon to Install EV Quick Charging Stations for “Green Highway” Project

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In an effort to boost charging infrastructure for electric vehicles on the West Coast, the Oregon Department of Transportation has partnered with AeroVironment to install a numerous (yet undisclosed) amount of 480-volt Level 3 chargers between the California/Oregon state border and the Willamette Valley. “Fast charging stations along high-traffic transportation corridors will help make driving electric vehicles between communities a viable option for Oregonians,” Oregon Department of Transportation Director Art James said in a statement. The project aims to eventually reach across the entire I-5 corridor with EV chargers from Southern California to Northern Washington. AeroVironment has already collaborated with major players in the EV industry, such as NRG Energy for its eVgo Network, Nissan for its LEAF debut in the U.S., BMW for its ActiveE project and General Motors for the 1980’s EV1 project. CNET reports that drivers should look out for charging stations in So. Oregon as soon as fall 2011. The project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.


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