Nissan-Renault takes its EV to US while Coulomb comes to Europe
Mar 24, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Nissan Renault takes its EV to US
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced its partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) “to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network.”
Nissan plans to bring its electric cars to the U.S. next year and SDG&E will help build up the charging infrastructure. The partners will also work with local groups to get the network up and running, maintain it, and teach people how to use it.
Nissan has also developed a partnersip with Better Place to set up electric vehicle charging infrastructure in various countries. Renault-Nissan has set its sights on Zürich, London amongst others.
Meanwhile, Better Place’s competitor, Coulomb Technologies expanded its global footprint by opening a Berlin office, that will help expansion into the European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) markets. . Coulomb already has pilot project runing in San Jose and Los Angeles, California.
The partnership between car manufacturers and charging companies is important because lack of public charging infrastructure could be a deterrent to the acceptance of electric and plug-in vehicles.
Tags: Better Place, Coulomb, Nissan, Renault
Renault looking at an electrifying future
Feb 28, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Renault EVs coming soon!
Renault is stepping up its electric vehicle research and development efforts with the grand goal of having a third of its vehicle line-up go electric within a decade. In the recent future, Renault plans to have three battery-powered models on sale by 2011: an electric Kangoo van, a Clio-sized five-seat hatch and a larger saloon designed primarily for Israel but which would also be sold across Europe.
All three new models will use NEC lithion-ion batteries, jointly developed with Nissan, and have a range of at least 100 miles. Nissan-Renault has tied up with Better Place in several countries like US, Denmark and Israel to simultaneously set up public charging points and release electric vehicles.
Perhaps to hedge its technology bets, sister company Nissan is working on hybrids and fuel cell vehicles.
Tags: Better Place, Coulomb, EV, Nissan, Renault
Coulomb Tech’s charging stations now in San Francisco
Feb 19, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Recharge!
The city of San Francisco in California has installed “Smartlets”, electric vehicle charging stations from Coulomb Technologies that can be used by owners of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids can use an electric outlet to top up their batteries and extend the distance they can travel in electric motor only mode. . While no mass produced plug-in hybrids are on sale in US currently, there are many aftermarket modifications being offered for the Toyota Prius (like the Hymotion from A123).
Coulomb’s had installed a few charging station in San Jose few months back. People can sign up using one of the various flexible plans, which allow them to recharge their cars a specified number of times.
Coulomb and Better Place are two startups, that are signing deals with governments all over the world and various car companies to set up public charging stations, in anticipation of roll outs of electric vehicles and plug in hybrids in the near future.
Tags: Better Place, Coulomb Technologies, Hybrids, San Francisco
Coulomb secures $3.8 million venture funding for public charging stations
Jan 27, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Coulomb Tech
Coulomb Technologies, a electric vehicle charging network startup, have just raised $3.8 million in its first round of venture capital funding. The round, led by Berlin’s Estag Capital, could be the cash the company needs to make a move into overseas markets, comes less than a month after it unveiled charging points in San Jose, California.
Founded in 2007, Coulomb is pushing a subscription-based service for its charging networks, but faces tough competition from Better Place, which already has deals in place to role out charging infrastructure in Israel, Denmark, Australia and US. Then there are threats from other diversified companies like RWA and Renault-Nissan, who also have their own plans.
Coulomb offers charging stations for your electric vehicles, which you could use by choosing to pay from one of their subscription models. Coulomb and Better Place are ensuring that car makers won’t be able to cite lack of public charging infrastructure as an excuse fpr not rolling out electric vehicles.
In another news, US president Barack Obama signed an order that will encourage US carmakers to sell more efficient cars.
Tags: Better Place, Coulomb Technologies, Obama
Better Place goes to Toronto
Jan 16, 2009 Auto Tech
Better Place
California, US based electric vehicle infrastructure startup Better Place has been on a roll, convincing countries, and lately U.S. states, to test out its network of chargers and battery swap stations. Now it has added Toronto to its grand scheme of things.
In the latest round of announcements, Better Place says it will create a Canadian head office in Ontario and will work with Bullfrog Power, a Canadian retailer which provides clean electricity. In addition, Better Place will partner with Macquarie Capital Markets of Canada to work on a network rollout plan as well as an investment timeline for the network. Shai Agassi, CEO of Better Place, said this is the first step into Canada, and the startup will build an electric vehicle demonstration center in Toronto.
Better Place has charging infrastructure in the works in Denmark, Israel and few states of US. It has also sewn up a partnership deal with Nissan-Renault. It has the unique business model, where users do not actually own the batteries, but pay per mile of usage. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Better Place, EV
Coulomb debuts vehicle charging infrastructure
Jan 9, 2009 Auto Tech
Chargepoint
California based Coulomb Technologies today started 3 charging stations for plug-in vehicle owners. Part of its ChargePoint™ Network, the charging stations are now installed and available for charging in downtown San Jose, with promises of many more to roll out in the coming weeks. To locate available charging stations, visit www.mychargepoint.net and click “Find Stations”.
Consumers subscribe to the ChargePoint Network and receive a ChargePoint Smart Card by paying $100, that allows them to charge their car at any Smartlet™ Charging Station nationwide. Then there’s options for varying monthly plans including: $15 per month for 10 night time charging sessions, $30 per month for unlimited night time charging sessions and so on.
Coulomb is up against another California based startup, Better Place. Both are in a race to sew up alliances with car makers as well as government agencies. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Better Place, Coulom Technologies, Hybrids, plugin vehicles
Better Place to test its car battery swapping technology in Japan
Dec 11, 2008 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Better Place
Just about a week after unveiling plans to rol out electric car charging network in Hawaii, US, California based startup Better Place scored another touchdown when announcing late yesterday that it’s joining a government pilot project in Japan to test electric vehicle infrastructure in the country.
Over in Israel, where Better Place has its main research and development center, the company also unveiled its first charging station, plugging in an electric car at a movie theater parking lot (see photo). The charging stations are expected to be deployed throughout Israel, as well as in Denmark, Australia, California and Hawaii. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Better Place, Japan
Better Place partners Hawaii for electric rollout
Dec 3, 2008 Green Technologies
Better Place
Shortly after announcing plans to set up a electric vehicle charging network in California, California startup Better Place is now set to sign in Hawaii as its next customer. Work for the electric car charging network will presumably start from next year, with electric vehicles first appearing in 18 months and becoming widely available by 2012. Hawaii utility Hawaiian Electric Company has also signed on to collaborate on infrastructure and energy production. More details are likely to be announced shortly.
Better Place already has deals in place for rolling out electric vehicle charging infrastructure in other countries like Denmark and Israel. With this deal, I guess that other electric vehicle makers will shortly follow with their own announcements to take advantage of charging network.
Hawaii being island in Pacific Ocean may be more vulnerable to the effects of global warming than other US states. Whatvere the motive, the state has its Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), which is aiming to have 70 percent of the states electricity from renewable sources.
Tags: Better Place, Denmark, electric cars, Hawaii, Israel
LA showstoppers : electric vehicles charging infrastructure
Nov 21, 2008 Auto Tech, Startups
Better Place - Nissan
Grand plans for setting up electric vehicles charging network in US are making all the headlines on the sidelines of the 2008 LA Motor Show. Three initiatives have been announced by Renault-Nissan, Better Place and Coulomb Technologies, that will put in place massive infrastructure for recharging and battery swap stations, many of which will use solar energy, in the cities as well as on the highways in California and Oregon. Battery swap stations should be especially exciting as it would mean you could just pop in a new battery when your old one runs out of juice on the highway and move on, a blessing considering the long charging times for batteries.
The setting up of infrastructure and sale of vehicles alternately powered has been a chicken and egg situation. Before buying electric vehicles, customers would like to be assured that they can recharge it or get batteries swapped away from their homes, so that the vehicles are practical and they are not stranded on road. Same is the case with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with almost non-existent hydrogen storage and disbursal facilities.
Hence, these initiatives will come as a major boost to green vehicle advocates. Read on to get the details! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Better Place, California, LA Auto Show 2008, Nissan, Renault