Welcome to the World of
Electric Vehicles and Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations.

The adoption of Electric Vehicles into our lives will change the way we look at refueling, as vehicle charging stations must be accessible, quick and easy to use. EV drivers will rely on home charging stations and conveniently located public charging stations to refuel their vehicles, providing new levels of freedom and convenience to their driving experience.

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Home Charging Stations

Most new Electric Vehicles will have the ability to be charged with 120VAC that comes right out of the electrical service at your home. The problem is that it will take 15 to 20 hours to fully recharge the battery. But Home Charging Stations will shorten the time needed to revharge the vehicle, typically within the time between getting home from work in the evening until you leave again in the morning.

Level 2 chargers will use 240VAC and will reduce the charging to 8 to 12 hours. Installation on a new EV Charger at home will have to coordinated with a certified electrician versed in the new technology and able to obtain the proper permitting for the installation.

Public Charging Stations

Businesses, commercial and retail establishments, and municipalities throughout the U.S. are studying changes to their physical space that will accomodate Public Charging Stations. EV drivers will need conveniently located charging stations to “top off” their battery when they can’t make it back home to recharge. Charging stations will be installed in parking decks, on city streets, at shopping malls, in business parks, at multi-tenant homes and even at individual businesses.

A third level of charging will provide direct DC charging capabilities that will charge the battery in 1-2 hours or less. Because of the high current requirements, these are not practical for home use. Public chargers will need to incorporate a Networking Option to handle remote monitoring and diagnostics, demand management and fee collection. Plus the public EV charger will need to have Mobile Device Services that will provide charger locations and facilitate charger reservations as well as reporting vehicle charge status to your phone or mobile device.

GE WattStation(TM)

GE has recently become a new player in the EV Charging Station market. On July 13, 2010, GE announed the GE WattStation™. The WattStation is designed to significantly decrease the time needed for vehicle charging, and uses smart grid technology to allow utility companies to manage the impact EVs have on the local and regional grids.

On average, the WattStation decreases EV charging time from 12-18 hours to as little as 4-8 hours compared to standard charging, assuming a 24 kWh battery and a full-cycle charge. Also the design allows for integration into a “smart” electrical distribution system, offering an “end-to-end” integrated EV infrastruction solution of electrical distribution products.

GE has incorporated all of these features into its WattStation as part of its standard features:

  • UL Certified
  • Charger and vehicle communication in accordance with NEC 625
  • Cord connection in accordance with SAE J1772
  • Indoor and outdoor enclosures
  • Wall and pedestal mount
  • Commerce and card reader capability
  • User authentication
  • Network communications
  • Revenue grade metering with AMI communications
  • LED lights and display
  • Level 2 (208-240 VAC) charging capability