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$1.9m to upgrade California chargers for next-gen vehicles

EV Connect is aiming to develop an Electric Superhighway in California

The California Energy Commission has awarded $1.9 million to two companies to upgrade the state’s existing electric vehicle recharging stations.

EV Connect, Inc., will work with recharging station producer ClipperCreek, Inc., to prepare California’s charging stations for the introduction of new mass-production plug-in vehicles like the Volt and the LEAF.

Adaptations to recharging stations will still mean existing electric car drivers can recharge, but the stations will be improved to meet the new industry standard, SAE-J1772.

“By upgrading existing electric vehicle charger stations across the state, California continues its leadership in promoting alternative fuel and plug-in vehicle technology,” said Energy Commissioner Anthony Eggert. “This investment will help prepare California for a clean, energy efficient future and advance the state’s transportation infrastructure.”

EV Connect, which has its head office in Huntington Beach, California, specializes the design and engineering of electric vehicle infrastructure.

Electric Superhighway

The firm said upgrading California’s legacy charging stations would be an important step toward creation of an “Electric Superhighway” where electric vehicle infrastructure is integrated with the internet and the smart grid.

Joran Ramer, CEO of EV Connect, said: “We appreciate the CEC’s confidence in EV Connect to bring California’s legacy EV infrastructure up to speed with existing technologies and standards, further validating our leadership as a provider of best-of-breed EV infrastructure solutions.”

The upgrades are slated to start this fall, for completion by the winter of 2011.

Jason France, ClipperCreek, said many of the chargers being replaced are units his company installed back in the 1990s.
Mr France said: “This opportunity allows us to update California’s EV infrastructure with the new standards that accommodate all new EVs coming to market.”