Recharging Electric Cars Away From Home: What To Expect Page 2

By Antony Ingram

Antony Ingram

Contributing Writer BIO

Antony has what can only be described as an obsession for all things automotive. If it moves, he'll drive it, and even if it doesn't move, he'll sit... More

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G-Wiz charging in the U.K.

If you're traveling further afield though, you'll need a Type 3 fast charger. These points run at 50-500 volt Direct Current (DC) at over 100 amps, and can provide your car with as much as an 80% charge in only 15-30 minutes.

Fast chargers will be deployed at malls, gas stations, rest-stops and other areas where time is generally of the essence. If even 15 minutes sounds a little slow to you though, consider that a 15 minute charge at a freeway rest-stop gives you just enough time to stretch your legs, go to the bathroom and have a drink, leaving you feeling fresh and ready for the next stage of your journey.

And 5 to 10 minutes of that won't involve standing with a fuel hose in your hand watching your last paycheck tick away...

Technological innovators Ecotality are founders of The EV Project. As well as providing over 8,000 type 2 chargers for residential use, the company will set up 5,500 type 2 chargers and 310 fast chargers in public locations. The infrastructre will cover locations in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington State, Tennessee, Washington D.C. and Texas.

ChargePoint America (CPA) will have a similar network, deploying 5,000 chargers in nine Metropolitan areas, including Washington State, California, Texas, Michigan, New York, Washington D.C. and Florida.

CPA's chargers will all be networked too, allowing EV owners to look for their nearest charging point with Google Maps, see if it's in use, send you an SMS or email to update you on the charging progress, and even alert you if a problem might result in your car not being fully charged when you return to it.

With mobile Apps like the iPhone's 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2012 Smart ED charge features and the OnStar-powered smartphone apps for the 2011 Chevy Volt, you'll never have been so informed as to what your car is up to when you're not actually in it.

CPA even say that they'll be able to fix a unit remotely should it develop a problem, thanks to the networked nature of all their charge points. In many cases any problem would be fixed before a user was even aware it existed.

Nissan's 50Kw Charger for the 2011 Nissan Leaf.

Enlarge Photo

Paying for your recharge should be simple too. Mike Dixon from Eaton points out that many parking companies already have payment systems in place, so paying for your charge could be rolled into your parking fee.

All of these features should reassure any potential (and current) EV owner that by the time they've put money down on their vehicle, the network will be there to enable them to take on longer journeys with ease.

Not only that, but they'll be enjoying a "refueling" process far more convenient and advanced than drivers of internal combustion cars have ever experienced.