Sears Home Services to install Plugless Power inductive charging systems for EVs
23 December 2011
Sears Home Services, the residential and commercial installation arm of Sears Holdings, recently entered an installation agreement with Evatran, the developer of Plugless Power inductive charging systems for electric vehicles. Plugless Power is a Level 2 (240V at 30A, 3.3 kW rated power output) system, with a transfer efficiency of 90%. Benefits offered to Plugless Power customers through the agreement include:
Simplified Purchasing: Evatran will offer Plugless Power systems with optional basic or standard home installation wrapped into the purchase price of the equipment; this full price may be included in the vehicle purchase or lease at the time of sale.
Pre-Installation Site Visits: Site visits, as necessary to quote non-standard and commercial installations, will be completed in advance of installations.
Timely Installation: Sears will receive automatic notification of a customer’s installation request; Sears will contact the customer within one business day of equipment purchase to schedule home installation.
Convenient Additional Services: Sears will offer ongoing service and maintenance to Plugless Power owners.
Sears installation network technicians will be trained and certified on the wireless charging systems and will work with Evatran to structure a comprehensive launch plan for aftermarket systems throughout 2012. Product offerings will initially focus on Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf models but will expand to include additional electric vehicles.
Installation will be offered with the sale of each Plugless Power system and priced based on the customer’s home and current electrical service. Sears will also offer commercial installation for electric vehicle fleet owners and managers.
Aftermarket systems will be available for installation starting in 2012 for Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt models. A specific geographic rollout plan will be announced next year with final installation pricing for basic and standard home installations.
In addition to aftermarket distribution, Evatran is currently working with automotive manufacturers to integrate the Plugless Power technology into mass-market EVs and signed a Joint Development Agreement with Yazaki North America, a major Tier 1 automotive supplier in May 2011.
Early in December, Evatran announced it had signed contracts with six commercial participants to outfit their Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF models with pre-production Plugless Power wireless charging systems. (Earlier post.)
I said this could become popular, we will see.
Posted by: SJC | 23 December 2011 at 07:31 AM
Yeah, but this worries me. It's just another way to splinter standards and drive the cost up as manufacturers try to cover every contingency.
Do they support AC or DC charging? What level? 1, 2 or 3? Which standard? CHADEMO or J1772? Do they support wireless charging? Will there be multiple standards for these as well?
Posted by: DaveD | 23 December 2011 at 08:49 AM
It is the open versus closed idea. A company may want to corner the market with closed, but can expand the market with open. People will want an open market with competition offering alternatives and value.
Posted by: SJC | 23 December 2011 at 09:38 AM
I start thinking, that GM and Nissan shoult takeover wireless charging as option and agree upon wireless charging method and finaly standard. Otherwise it will be mess.
Posted by: Darius | 24 December 2011 at 12:57 PM
Sears could be a perfect brand to lead home CHP sales and maintenance. As the new breed of non-radiative, electro-chemical CHP appliances come on line, a venerable old name like Sears might be better positioned than less well known brands. They have huge recognition. Good reputation. Good market distribution. What they don't have is a regional license to sell the new technology. Yet.
A Sears Brand 10kW CHP system selling for around $2,500, would be an excellent entry level replacement for residential water heaters. The BIG benefit being, 7-8kWh of low cost electricity after capital and installation costs. Low cost averaging around 1 cents/kWh or about $75/month average energy cost (assuming full load). This cost could double dependent on electric use, if you fully charge an 8kWh EV daily.
The prospect of $150/month average energy cost inclusive of EV transportation - will revolutionize the economy. Putting a lot more disposable cash in the hands of the income earner.
Good economists applaud.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 26 December 2011 at 12:56 PM