EV Charging
July 12, 2017
Why Choosing Slow EV Charging Stations Can Make Sense for Your Fleet Vehicles
When the City of Seattle embarked on a massive expansion of its plug-in fleet several years ago, it opted to avoid costlier charging stations (EVSE) in favor of what Green Fleet Program Manager, Andrea Pratt, called “slow and dumb” chargers. For the purposes of the overwhelming majority of plug-ins in the fleet, networked “smart” chargers, which can log charge data and schedule charging remotely, simply weren’t[…]
July 4, 2017
The Biggest Obstacles for Seamless Electric Vehicle Charging in 2017
Electric cars and the charging stations powering them continue to improve. To get to the next level, the industry needs to overcome these obstacles.
July 3, 2017
Hidden energy harvested from Cities dog waste program could power over 4 years of EV commuting
Earlier this summer the City of Waterloo announced it will pilot a program which aims to clean city parks of dog droppings and use the waste to generate power. The idea, dubbed “poop power” by the city’s mayor, Dave Jaworsky, came from a local dog owner and construction worker who thought, ‘there must be a better way to do things’. As it turns out,[…]
April 20, 2017
Utility Customers Set to Save Billions Each Year Thanks to Electric Vehicles
In most scenarios, electric vehicle owners stand to save money over the life of their vehicles compared to gas-powered equivalents. There is another major benefit that doesn’t get as much attention though – savings to electric utilities and their customers thanks to load-balancing. Recently, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) funded a study through M.J. Bradley & Associates LLC (MJB&A) measuring potential outcomes for plug-in vehicle[…]
March 15, 2017
What You Should Know About Today’s Electric Car Batteries
Most consumers regard batteries with a slight hint of contempt and mistrust. Who can blame them? Based on their experience with cellphones and laptops, batteries are needy snowflakes with fickle charging schedules, and get sucked dry at the least convenient moment. But unlike their temperamental counterparts, electric vehicle batteries are different. They’re designed to be more robust, as they carry a heavier load and[…]
February 2, 2017
Electric Utilities Seeking to Accelerate EV Charging Infrastructure Growth
It’s official. An EV, the Chevy Bolt, has been named North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show; the altar of internal combustion. That’s a nod to the widespread adoption of EVs that is gaining momentum as fast as Dominic Toreto’s 1970 hemi-powered Dodge Charger. Last year, 159,000 EVs were sold in the United States, an impressive 38% increase over 2015.[…]
January 26, 2017
4 Questions to Consider When Planning EV Charging Infrastructure
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for organizations interested in adding plug-in vehicles to their fleet portfolio has been planning out EV charging infrastructure. Calculating vehicle costs, fuel savings and suitability become all the more difficult when you don’t know where the cars are going to charge, how many stations will be needed, and how much they will cost to install. Planning electric vehicle[…]
January 24, 2017
Why 2017 Is a Good Year For Fleets to Purchase Electric Vehicles
All things considered, electric vehicles had their best year yet in 2016. Plug-ins set sales records in North America and around the world; charging stations came into service at an astonishing rate; and the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the first affordable long-range model, debuted on the U.S. market. Meanwhile, the first generation of EVs saw improvements nearly across the board. Updated editions of the Tesla[…]
October 20, 2016
A Glimpse at the Future of Electric Vehicle Charging
In case you haven’t noticed, there’s been a minor revolution in electric vehicles in the past two years. Beginning with the Chevrolet Bolt EV debut in January 2015, 200+ miles of range at a reasonable price point ($37,500) is the new standard for an EV. Meanwhile, Tesla continued improving its premium performance vehicles until it made the quickest production car on the auto market.[…]
September 27, 2016
These Maps Show the State of Electric Vehicle Charging in 2016
There are many arguments about how public charging stations affect the adoption of electric vehicles in North America. Some say people charge at home most of the time so it doesn’t matter; others say people need to know they can charge outside the home to avoid range anxiety and get more use out of their cars. While each side has a point, it’s difficult[…]
