ECOtality’s eTec Finalizes $99.8M Transportation Electrification Project with DOE
02 October 2009
Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a subsidiary of ECOtality, Inc. signed a contract with the US Department of Energy (DOE) for a grant of exactly $99.8 million to undertake the largest deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure yet in the US. (Earlier post.)
The final scope of work for The Electric Vehicle (EV) Project will include the deployment of 10,950 Level 2 (220V) chargers, 260 Level 3 fast-chargers and 4,700 Nissan LEAF zero-emission electric vehicles in five states: Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington. In conjunction with the contract signing, The EV Project officially commenced on October 1, 2009.
To mark the commencement of the project, ECOtality and eTec today also announced the official website for the Project: www.theEVproject.com. The site is designed to provide general information about The EV Project and provides information about how to purchase a Nissan LEAF and sign-up to receive free charge infrastructure at a home or business. The interactive site also offers real time maps to show where current charge stations are located, allows visitors to track the deployment of charge infrastructure and provides the public the ability to suggest new charge locations in the markets infrastructure will be deployed.
The EV Project will collect and analyze data characterizing vehicle use and charging patterns in diverse topographies and climate conditions, evaluate the effectiveness of charge infrastructure, and conduct trials of various revenue systems for public charge infrastructure.
There will be early adopters and then the friends and neighbors will see that this can work. Few people want to take the risk to buy a car that has LESS utility (range). It does not seem like the safe thing to do with their hard earned after tax dollars.
Posted by: SJC | 02 October 2009 at 08:25 AM
Right again SJC. If this test included Volt, and MiEV and even Tesla it would do a better job of raising EV awareness.
The worst result we could see would be for a small test fleet of low powered/underpowered vehicles cause drivers to complain about short range and recharge headaches. EVs must be positioned as able today to replace an ICE powered vehicle with no loss of capability.
Volt does a pretty good job of that so far.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 02 October 2009 at 10:51 AM
I agree Reel$$, it would be bad if the first wave had lots of problems. I would make sure that they were sold into applications where they can succeed. Urban and suburban settings where the strengths can shine and show where they really can do some good.
Posted by: SJC | 03 October 2009 at 11:08 AM
Range extenders. Tiny range extenders. Large range extenders. Range extending fuel burning engine-generators are the answer to economically engineered battery vehicles. This money would have been far better spent on bringing the OPOC range extender to market in quantity. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 05 October 2009 at 11:18 PM