Charging Infrastructure News

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Marc Cesare

EV solar charging station at Brooklyn Bridge Park

A Solar Charging Station Grows In Brooklyn – Brooklyn Bridge Park recently became home to the city’s first solar powered electric vehicle charging station. The station was developed and donated by the Beautiful Earth Group, a renewable energy developer based in Brooklyn, and uses two recycled shipping containers stacked on top of one another and 24 photovoltaic panels. The station will be used by the park’s fleet of four electric vehicles which include two GEM LSVs and two Toro utility vehicles. The charging stations fits with the park’s sustainability efforts and will also be incorporated into educational programs for children. Learn more: Brooklyneagle.com

Plugless Power wireless charging station from Evtran

Google Testing Wireless Charging Station – Google is testing wireless EV charging technology developed by Evtran of Virginia. Called Plugless Power, the recharging station will be used to power up one of Google’s NEVs that are used in the company’s vehicle sharing program for employees. The vehicle had to be retrofitted to work with the charger which works on the principle of induction similar to electric transformers except that the transformer is split between the charger and the vehicle. Evtran is looking for additional corporate or municipal NEV fleets to field test their product. Learn more: Cleantechnica.com

Strategic Energy Development and Implications for Powering Utility Vehicles

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Marc Cesare

My colleague Stephen Metzger recently wrote an article for Industrial Utility Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Magazine (IUV Magazine) discussing energy development and the implications for utility vehicles. He touches on developments in electric vehicle infrastructure and alternatives to on-grid electricity. Learn more: IUVmag.com

NJ Assembly Bills To Promote Electric Vehicles

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Marc Cesare

A package of bills are being proposed in the New Jersey State Assembly to support electric vehicles. They include tax credits and tax deductions for charging infrastructure and the purchase of electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as well as requirements for shopping center developers and the Turnpike Authority to install electric vehicle charging stations.

The most relevant for LSVs/NEVs are the tax credits for business and the tax deductions for individual tax payers for the purchase of electric vehicles. According to the office of Assemblyman Daniel Benson, one of the bill sponsors, and my own reading of the bill, LSVs/NEVs would be eligible for these tax credits and deductions. As currently written, for businesses, the tax credits would be available for three years starting with a $5,000 tax credit in year one, then declining to $3,000 in year two and $2,000 in year three. For individuals the numbers are the same except it is a gross income tax deduction instead of a tax credit. Learn more: Paramuspost.com EV Tax Credit/Deduction Bill

Update: The bills related to the tax credits and tax deductions for purchasing electric vehicles passed the Assembly on Thursday. If the bills are passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, the credits and deductions will start in 2012 and run through 2014. Learn more: Paramuspost.com

Oregon Study Looks At LSV Impact on Transportation Infrastructure & Safety

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Marc Cesare

A report published in December from the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium (OTREC) investigated the impact of LSVs on transportation infrastructure and safety on Oregon.

The purpose of the research was to determine positive and negative impacts that LSVs, which include Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and Medium-Speed Electric Vehicles (MSEVs), are likely to have for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oregon communities. In addition, the research explores whether adjustments in current state regulations are needed to ensure that LSVs do not negatively impact road safety and traffic operations, or expose the LSV operators to undue risk.

The results of the research included three major recommendations:

The State of Oregon’s regulations for LSVs should be amended such that LSVs are limited to public roadways with a maximum operating speed of 25 mph, and they are restricted to crossing higher-speed roadways at four-way stops or traffic-controlled intersections.

Local transportation authorities should work with LSV users and members of the bicycle community to develop parallel or secondary low-speed transportation networks that connect residential neighborhoods with major activity centers that include education, employment, retail, medical and recreational facilities.

LSV users need to be educated about the safety risks of LSVs, in particular those that have a “car-like” appearance, and the safety risks of modifying the speed regulator on LSVs.

Learn more: Transportation Research Board – OTREC Report

Kandi COCOC LSV Receives Chinese Approval

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Kandi Technologies COCO LSV recently qualified to be eligible for certain Chinese government energy programs. The vehicles can now be marketed to Chinese consumers and government agencies and are available for various local and regional subsidies. Management also formalized a partnership with China-based battery maker Tianneng Power International, Ltd. and Jinhua Bada Group, a subsidiary of State Grid Power Corp. to create China’s first Electric Vehicle battery replacement services company. Kandi will make batteries available on a rental basis for their vehicles and the partnership will create a network of charging and battery replacement locations. Learn more: RTTNews.com

Madison, WI To Expand Charging Infrastructure

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Madison Gas & Electric Co. and Coulomb Technologies announced plans to expand Madison’s current number of EV charging stations from 3 to 24. Originally, plans called for six charging stations, but now an additional eighteen are planned. The stations are part of a demonstration project to understand study charging patterns and their impact on the power grid. MG&E is looking for owners of plug-in electric hybrids and neighborhood electric vehicles to volunteer for the project. All charging locations will be free and available to the public.

The project is funded by a portion of a $5.5 million smart grid investment grant from the U.S. Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The charging stations will be two-tiered charging stations that feature both a standard and a faster charging option. The stations can charge two vehicles at a time and will be located in high traffic areas. Learn more: Carbondayautomotive.com

EV Infrastructure News

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Eaton & Murphy Oil USA start EV charging demonstration project. Eaton will provide their DC Quick Chargers and Murphy Oil USA brings over 1,000 gas stations in 22 states to the project. An initial test deployment will begin in Tennessee before the partners decide how to expand distribution. Learn more: Greencarcongress.com

Santa Cruz, CA to add more charging stations. The Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Alliance recently secured more funding for installing more charging stations around the county. While existing stations initially targeted NEVs, the new stations will also offer enough voltage for charging highway electric cars. Learn more: Kionrightnow.com

NEVs Slow To Gain Traction In Korea

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Despite a growing number of local governments designating roads for NEV use, the vehicles have not attracted many buyers. After Korea passed favorable NEV regulations at the national level earlier this year, 30% of the local government have reported designating local roads for NEV use. this figure is expected to increase rapidly in the coming months. However, manufacturers point to a lack of electric vehicle subsidies and recharging infrastructure as reasons for the lack of NEVs purchases to date and a likely persistent obstacle to market growth moving forward. Learn more: Koreaherald.com

TrikE: Another Low Speed Transportation Option

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Marc Cesare

TrikE - A new option for the urban commuter

The TrikE is an electric power assisted bicycle designed to provide urban commuters with a transportation option that takes advantage of the increasing miles of bike lanes. Developed by Speed Studio Design, the TrikE features weather protection, light cargo storage and a 36v lithium battery pack which drives a 750W motor. The TrikE has a top speed of 20 mph and is classified as a bicycle. The vehicle is positioned, in part, as a more affordable transportation option than NEVs. Learn more: Design-daily.com

News Briefs

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Strong UTV Sales In Australian Farming Segment – An Australian farming magazine reports about the increasing demand for UTVs and the entry of new manufacturers like Honda, Case IH and New Holland into the market. Learn more: FW.farmonline.com.au

Platinum Group Acquires Tiziani Golf Car of Minnesota – The Platinum Group, a private equity fund that focuses on underperforming companies or those in need of turnaround expertise, recently purchased the assets of Tiziani Golf Car of Minnesota. The company will be renamed Superior Golf Cars and will continue to be the exclusive distributor of Club Car vehicles in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Learn more: peHub.com

Phillips Develops Crosswalk System For Silent Vehicles – Phillips is developing an LED based crosswalk lighting system to warn pedestrians of approaching but silent vehicles such as electric buses, autos and scooters. The embedded LEDs react to approaching vehicles the same way traffic lights do by changing color from green to amber to red.
Learn more: Worldcarnews.com

Phillips Develops LED Crosswalk System

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