EV Charger Maker Says Statewide Retail System Underway In California

EV Charger Maker Says Statewide Retail System Underway In California

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Electric vehicle charger manufacturer Coulomb Technologies said this morning that it has begun marketing retail chargers that will be installed next year in major cities and along major highway routes in California.

The program could help jump-start the market for rechargeable electric vehicles by providing convenient charging sites for travelers and for apartment dwellers and others without access to private garages with electrical connections.

The company is anticipating a growing market for commercial EV charging stationl for plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles as California ramps up its much-revised Zero Emissions Vehicles mandate and continues to push for enforcement of a statewide initiative to force automakers to lower the greenhouse as emissions of cars and trucks sold within the state.

Coulomb CEO Richard Lowenthal said his year-old start-up markets its Smartlet Networked Charging Stations to companies that are building alternative fueling stations and has 40 installations scheduled for the first quarter of 2009.

Coulomb recently announced a trial programs with the city of San Jose, Calif., and has done demonstrations with General Motors Corp., but Lowenthal said his company is privately financed and is not receiving aid from automakers, utilities or government agencies.

The chargers would be owned by individual station operators who would set the flat fees that customers would pay for each charging session, said Lowenthal. Some have said they will provide charging at no cost to the vehicle owner, he said.

The stations would be able to serve a variety of battery EVs and extended-range and plug-in hybrids being developed by automakers including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and BMW's Mini subsidiary.

To access the charging stations, consumers would subscribe to the company's network and receive a remote wireless access key, Lowenthal said.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.