Electric Vehicle

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.

There's no question that owning an electric car is better not only for the environment but also for your wallet. Then why does it seem like so many Americans are hesitant to take the plunge? Anxiety about battery life is probably the biggest concern to electric owners and potential owners. People fear change, but according to the EPA the Nissan Leaf averages 73 miles per charge and the Chevrolet Volt can run for 35 miles on a charge.

Charging an electric car at home is not only simple, but economical - costing anywhere from $1.50 to $4.00. It's far from dangerous, the power required to charge your car is equivalent to running a hair dryer. Maybe its time for resistant buyers to reconsider their fears when it comes to owning an electric car!

Check out the video after the jump and see if you change your mind...Read more

Back in January 2009 Cadillac unveiled the Converj Concept, a luxury electric coupe. Cadillac announced this week that the Converj Concept is moving forward as a production car that will be called the Cadillac ELR. This vehicle will be the world's only luxury coupe with extended-range electric vehicle technology.

The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the battery's energy is low, the ELR switches to extended-range mode to enable driving for hundreds of additional miles.

Cadillac selected the name ELR to indicate the car's electric propulsion technology, in keeping with the brand's 3-letter international model naming convention.Read more

Like many Americans, Kory Levoy's weekly routine included shelling out $50 to $60 a week to fill his Audi TT Roadster. In the six months he has owned his Chevrolet Volt, Levoy has driven approximately 7,500 miles and has filled up only three times.

Like many other Volt owners, Levoy is averaging 40 miles on a single charge of electricity, more range than he needs for his daily commute of 25 miles each way to work.

"At night I charge my Volt at home using my 240-volt home charging station, and am then able to use my 120-volt portable vehicle charge cord to charge during work, meaning I rarely need to use gas," said Levoy.

Levoy estimates his average electric bill to charge his Volt is about $25 a month, or less than a dollar a day. Even with paying for more electricity, Levoy could save close to $2,000 a year in gasoline.Read more

Chevrolet announced on Friday that dealers in all 50 states will begin taking orders for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt electric car. The 2012 model will be priced nearly $1,000 below the 2011 base model with a starting price of $39,995 (or $32,496 with federal tax credit of $7,500). The price includes an $850 destination freight charge (but excludes tax, title and license fees).

For 2012, Chevrolet is offering a total of seven option packages (the 2011 model had only three). A loaded Volt, with leather appointments, backup camera, navigation system and premium paint and wheels is priced at $46,265 including delivery ($38,765 net of full tax credit). The Volt will be available in two additional interior accents (white and spiced red) and two new exterior colors (Summit White and Blue Topaz Metallic).Read more

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

Over the past year we've told you all about the Chevrolet Volt, the new electric car with extended-range capability. If you've wanted to get behind the wheel and test drive the Volt, the wait is almost over! Chevrolet dealerships in the initial launch markets of California, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. will be receiving Volt demonstration vehicles for customer test drives over the next few weeks.

In the first quarter of 2011, approximately 550 demonstration Volts will be delivered to Chevy dealers. By the end of the year, more than 2,500 U.S. dealers will receive a dedicated Volt for demonstrations and test drives. Chevy expects to deliver Volts in all 50 states by the end of 2011. Read more

Yesterday, the first 2011 Chevrolet Volt electric vehicles left the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant on their way to dealerships – meaning customers in California, Texas, Washington D.C. and New York could receive the first-and-only electric vehicle with extended-range capability in the next few days.

Voted "Car of the Year" by MotorTrend, Automobile and Green Car Journal, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt can drive up to 379 miles without a recharge or gas fill up, thanks to the Voltec electric propulsion system which combines battery-only electric driving with a gas-powered engine.

"Today is a historic milestone for Chevrolet," said Tony DiSalle, Volt marketing director. "We have redefined automotive transportation with the Volt, and soon the first customers will be able to experience gas-free commuting with the freedom to take an extended trip whenever or wherever they want."

Get more information on the Chevrolet Volt at www.chevrolet.com/volt.

Chevrolet Volt owners will have a fast and (relatively) affordable option when it comes to charging their electric vehicles. The Voltec 240V home charging unit, offered by SPX Service Solutions, is priced at $490 before installation.

The Voltec 240V home charging unit can charge the Volt's battery in about four hours, compared with 10 hours with the standard 120V charge cord that plugs into a household outlet. The unit can be installed on the wall of almost any garage or carport. Installation is estimated at $1,475 but can vary based upon electrical requirements.

Worried an electric car will be a drain on your home's electric supply? Utility companies say they are working on offering special rates to encourage electric car owners to charge during off-peak hours.

In addition to Chevrolet's Voltec unit, SPX will offer a variety of home charging stations and manage all aspects of installation for Volt owners.

Infiniti just released a sketch of its first luxury electric vehicle, which is set to launch in 2013. The Infiniti EV will be a high performance five-seat luxury vehicle with zero emissions technology.

"This future EV will play a major part of Infiniti's 'eco performance' strategy that will see a greater focus on hybrid and EV technology," said Infiniti Vice President Ben Poore. "We are committed to applying the world's best technologies to reduce emissions without sacrificing driving excitement or engagement – a pledge that will become more evident soon with the upcoming introduction of our new Infiniti M Hybrid." Read more