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San Jose Unveils Electric Car Charging StationsPartying like it's 1999 |
7 Comments |
| By Michael d'Estries in Energy, Transportation | July 22, 2008 | ||
I remember spying some electric car charging stations in the documentary Who Killed The Electric Car and thinking that they were such a great idea. Then, of course, the electric automobile was effectively killed and such ideas were mothballed. Now, with San Jose pulling the curtain back on its new automobile charging stations, there’s reason to believe again that we’re headed towards a new era of transportation.
The technology on display comes from startup Coulomb Technologies — which is using the city as a testing ground for its new stations. The company’s products include 110-volt outlets that can be outfitted in public and mounted on poles, such as streetlights. As such, they’re designed to scale to a national level, with a projected need of two stations per car, as electricity-powered vehicles grow in popularity and choice. Each one is expected to cost between $1,000-$2,000 for municipalities to install. From the article,
Those at Coulomb Technologies envision a subscription model that would charge a premium for tapping into the grid during peak demand times. They also tout utility grid management technology. The company would provide charging stations with wireless communications, managing a mesh network to authenticate users, and manage energy flow and metering. Users, hosts, and utilities would access GPS-linked data online.
With their partnership with Coulomb, San Jose has become the first city in the U.S. to offer electric-car charging within an existing infrastructure. Now if only there were more cars to take advantage of them, people might be seriously excited. Till then, charging stations can be considered markers of a more sustainable future.
Let’s hope it gets here fast.
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Gustavion said,
This is awesome, indeed. It’s part of a “pro-environment culture” that is slowly being adopted. To further the advancement, I think it is important to provide individuals with opportunities to benefit the environment and themselves at the same time. For example, I came across a neat website http://www.simplestop.net that stops your postal junk mail and helps the environment.
Courtney said,
“Let’s hope it gets here fast.” I’m with you there.
Kim said,
The problem is that they are plugging into the electric grid, which might have got its electricity from burning coal. My idea is to have docking stations that you can use a swipe card to pay for you place money on the card and it is deducted), but these docking stations would be powered with solar panels. Any electricity generated is clean, and if there is any excess, it can go back into the power grid. It’s like biodiesel fuels; some of them are a net zero energy gain. The idea’s good; it’s the execution that needs tweaking. But we are at least heading in the right direction!
Fit Bottomed Girls said,
YES! That’s beyond awesome. Now if only the Midwest could become a bit more, you know, with it.
Jash said,
This is incredible news! This shall definitely serve to foray electric cars into the mainstream market.
California once again proves to be the forbearer of nascent technology.
Gideon said,
Hey Gustavion, stop spamming every discussion thread.
Barry Bernsten said,
America needs to stay FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED.
Focus:
History reminds us that every time oil prices peak and the North American market/consumers start to discuss alternative energy sources, the oil exporting countries start to trim down their prices. History also tells us that the oil exporting nations have been very successful in the past and in fact, we have lost our enthusiasm and dropped many of our alternative energy initiatives after oil prices are reduced.
WE need to stay focused this time.
1) Al Gore and his energy initiative is on course.
2) T. Boone Pickens and his wind power initiative is on course.
3) The BG Automotive Group mass production electric vehicle program is on
course along with renewable solar energy charging option.
4) Richard Branson from the UK is on course w/his environmental programs..
5) The Gas Reduction Act of 2008 might not be the most environmentally sound
solution, but yet it shows that Congress has finally realized that we have an
energy crisis (again), and a real threat to our national security.
The continued dependence on foreign oil is a threat to our long term democratic values. We must become an energy independent nation, and with this, some sacrifices will have to be made by the American consumer.
Be aware!!
We are exporting approximately USD $700 Billion dollars per year of U.S. currency. The majority of this money is being transferred to the Trillion dollar “sovereign wealth funds”. This is USD $700 Billion not being spent on America’s educational system, health care and security.
The “sovereign wealth funds” are directly buying major interests (large blocks of stock) in U.S. companies, including most of the major banks. Also, billions of dollars of “sovereign wealth fund” money is being invested in our hedge funds, private equity firms, and the investment banking industry. A few of these firms are directly and indirectly investing large sums of money into our “gas combustion” automobile industry. Do we want our auto industry in the direct or indirect control of the firms that are supplying us oil? This is an interesting topic for an investigative reporter.
There are automotive consulting companies in Michigan (heart of our auto industry), lobbying States and our Federal Government, NOT to subsidize the Electric Vehicle industry. The latter seems to be contradictory to what the American public would like to see from our automobile industry. After the billions (excess of $20 billion) the automotive companies have lost in the past 6 months producing gas combustion vehicles, you would think they too would change course. Changing course is not adding 2-4 miles per gallon w/Hybrids. Drastic measures in our auto industry must take place and NOW!
Do not let the temporary reduction in oil prices push us off course….AGAIN.
Educated:
Read, Read- Stay on top of the issues. Let’s not be fooled again.
STAY FOCUSED, AWARE and EDUCATED!