Yesterday, 365-Energy Group announced that the city of Amsterdam has made their choice regarding charging stations for electric vehicles. The city has chosen to go with ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations provided by Coulomb Technologies.
Initially, they will install 45 charging stations as part of a demonstration program. If successful, the city plans to add up to 200 by 2012 and provide enough charging stations for 10,000 electric vehicles by 2015.
Installing a charging station is not as simple as putting it in place. Many companies are involved. The company of Nuon will provide renewable energy to the stations, while 365-Energy will manage the stations and their subscribers.
The system works by allowing drivers to subscribe to the network through the web and then receive a ChargePoint Smart Card which gives them access to any of the ChargePoint stations. The card is swiped in front of a reader which then opens an access door allowing the customer to charge their car. During the demonstration process, charging an electric vehicle will entail no cost to the customer.
The key to the system is that all units are networked together allowing them to communicate and relay information back to the management company regarding their usage and energy requirements. The system can also notify drivers by text message if their vehicle may be overdue for charging or when charging of you vehicles terminates in an unexpected manner.
The project in Amsterdam is but one of many we will see around the world in the coming years and one day electric charging station could become as familiar a sight as a gas station.
Source: Coulomb Technologies Press Release
Amsterdam Becomes First European City to Install Coulomb ChargePointNetworked Charging Stations for Electrical Vehicles
Amsterdam, May 27 2009 – 365-Energy Group today announced that the city of Amsterdam has selected the ChargePoint™ Networked Charging Stations of world leading infrastructure provider Coulomb Technologies to fuel the electrical cars in the city. The 45 charging stations are part of a two-year public demonstration project. The City of Amsterdam plans to deploy 200 charging stations before 2012, and the charging stations are expected to fuel 10,000 electric cars in 2015. Leading energy company Nuon will provide renewable energy for the charging stations and Coulomb’s international partner 365-Energy (http://www.365-energy.com ) will manage the ChargePoint Network for subscribers.
“We are proud to announce our first European deployment of Coulomb’s ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations, “said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies. “Less than two months ago we announced the formation of our EMEA headquarters and now the city of Amsterdam will have the largest network of smart charging stations in Europe for fleet and consumer charging. Coulomb is providing an inclusive open architecture so that all electric vehicle owners in Amsterdam can easily make the switch from gasoline to electricity as a fuel.”
Drivers of electrical vehicles subscribe to the ChargePoint Network through a website and receive a ChargePoint Smart Card that allows them to charge their car at any charging station. To use a ChargePoint charging station, a driver holds an authorized Smart Card near the card reader on the station's front panel. Once authorized, the station door will unlock, allowing the driver to plug in his vehicle, and will energize the outlet once the door is safely locked securing the driver’s cord. The service is free of charge for this pilot project.
Drivers can find available ChargePoint charging stations through Google™ maps and request new stations through a subscriber portal. As the network of ChargePoint charging stations expands across Europe, drivers will have access to the service in any city, regardless of their provider. The ChargePoint Network ensures the same roaming capabilities as mobile phone providers.
The charging stations provide fleet managers with an online Fleet Portal displaying performance data and graphs for their plug-in fleet. The networked charging stations also report greenhouse gas savings and gasoline savings to fleet managers. Coulomb’s networked charging stations notify drivers and fleet managers via text message when individual vehicles are overdue for charging, when charging abnormally terminates, and when charging is complete.
About 365 Energy NV
365 Energy Group is an enabler in the e-mobility industry. The company provides the innovative ChargePoint Network across Europe, Middle East & Africa. The company distributes ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations ranging in capability from 120V 15A to 240V 80A AC charging to 120kW DC charging and operates the ChargePoint Network for subscribers, fleet managers, municipalities and utilities.
About Coulomb Technologies, Inc.
Coulomb Technologies (http://www.coulombtech.com), headquartered in Campbell, Calif., offers a family of products and services that provide a plug-in vehicle charging infrastructure. Coulomb applies networking technology to the challenge of charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in order to fuel the electric transportation industry. Follow Coulomb on Twitter at twitter.com/coulombevi.
