Charging Station

Electric vehicle owners now have another option when it comes to purchasing an indoor electric vehicle charging station. Schneider Electric's EVlink Indoor EV charging station is a compact, easy-to-install, safe and reliable Level 2 charging solution for charging all types of electric vehicles – and the best part of all? You can purchase it online at HomeDepot.com.

"Electric vehicle drivers are asking for the ability to purchase EVlink charging stations online," said Mike Calise, Director, Electric Vehicles, Power Business, Schneider Electric. "We are excited to work with The Home Depot to provide consumers a simple, point and click purchase option for buying our EV chargers."

EVlink Indoor charging station features:

• Faster charging features: Charges approximately four times faster than a standard 110 volt home outlet. With a full 30 Amp Level 2 charging rate, EVlink owners charge almost two times faster than other 16 Amp Level 2 charging stations.
• Homeowner-friendly design: Sleek, space-saving design, LED charging indicator, and independent cord bracket for safe and convenient mounting options.
• Delayed charging option: Enables users to delay charging for up to eight hours, in one hour increments, allowing them to take advantage of lower off-peak utility rates.
• Advanced safety features: Integral ground fault monitoring and protection capabilities including auto reset provides additional user safety from power outages and lost connectivity.
• Standards compliance: UL for US, cUL for Canada and NOM for Mexico listed and SAE J1772 compliance ensures universal compatibility with any electric vehicle entering the market today.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte last week became the first urban hotel in the Southeast to offer a permanently-installed Level II charging station for use by guests driving electric vehicles. Located in the front drive of the property, it is complimentary to hotel guests, and supports the hotel's commitment to environmentally-friendly practices and operations.

The electric vehicle charging station at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte features two charging ports for simultaneous use. Its 120-volt "Level I" port would typically charge a car from zero to full power in 10 -12 hours, depending upon the vehicle's battery pack. The station can also dispense a 240-volt "Level II" charge using the industry standard SAE J1772 connector, and this would take approximately six hours to go from empty to full charge, depending on car battery pack. Few electric vehicles are expected to visit the hotel on "empty" and would more likely need to be "topped off", requiring only 30-45 minutes for a Level II charge. Most new production cars offering all-electric technology feature the J1722 female inlet that accepts a Level II, 240-volt charge. Read more

Today Chevrolet announced that when the Volt electric vehicle goes on sale later this year, buyers of the vehicle will be eligible for one of 4,400 free, 240-volt, charging stations, as well as home installation in some cases. This is made possible thanks to grants administered by the Department of Energy.

The Department of Energy plans to install approximately 15,000 240-volt home charge stations across the U.S., and the data collected from the charge stations will be analyzed by the Department of Energy to understand what is required for widespread electric vehicle use.

At the time of purchase, Volt buyers will receive a portable 120-volt charge cord, and will have the option of installing a 240-volt charge station from Chevrolet. Volt buyers that live within the program cities may apply for a free 240-volt home charging station through the ChargePoint America or The EV Project programs if they are willing to share their charging information. More information on eligibility requirements and the application process will be available when the Volt goes on sale later this year. Read more