Posts Tagged by EV charging infrastructure
Are Angels Real? – Angel Investors, That Is?
| October 21, 2011 | Posted by Craig Shields under Electric Vehicles |
If you’ve ever wondered if there really are high net-worth individuals who happily invest their own money in start-up ventures, and calmly allow the entrepreneur to pursue his business, I’m here to tell you that such creatures do, in fact, exist. Here’s a picture taken a few weeks ago in Seattle, in which a friend and I are standing on either side of this glorious couple, Mr. and Mrs. William Eberlin, the angel investors in the ETM (Energy Transfer Merchant), a high-end EV charging station.
Note the Nissan LEAF and Tesla Roadster in the background of this ribbon-cutting ceremony for the ETM.
EV Charging Infrastructure – Unique Approach
| November 5, 2009 | Posted by Craig Shields under Electric Vehicles |
A reader suggested that I review the innovative product offered by a German company called IAV in electric vehicle charging, which I did. See this fascinating idea on inductive charging.
To be honest, I had never heard of this. So I asked a few colleagues: May I have some comments on this, please?
Here is the dialog:
From Bill Moore, EV World: The issue here is COST. This will work if it’s incorporated into a dedicated toll-road like the bypass around Denver or from DC out to Dulles. Feds, states and cities just won’t have the money to tear up streets and roads and embed this technology. I see a tough road ahead in the US. It’s more likely to make sense in China and India where they are building new roads. America is just too broke.
My response: Yes, I’m sure it’s pricey to install; I wonder how much per mile, and what the efficiency of the charging is. I would think another issue would be billing the energy to the consumer. And aren’t there safety and other feasibility issues with electromagnetic fields that powerful? Having said all this, one such lane in each of a city’s major freeways would be a huge step in the direction of charging ubiquity.
From Bill Moore: Exactly…. you pretty much hit them all. I am going to comment on this idea in Currents (on the EV World home page)
From: Douglas S. Wilson of ECO-Holland: Stationary induction systems will be feasible before roadways are built or retrofitted with such systems. I could see consumers’ garages and specific parking spaces at businesses or city parking lots could have induction systems embedded. A matching induction pickup coil could be built in or installed aftermarket to any electric vehicle. I think it’s a great idea. (Asks another colleague) Gary, How much power can be transferred with standard household voltages. How does the distance between the active and passive elements affect rate of energy transfer?
