Leviton partners with Coulomb Technologies, makes EV charging stations plug-and-play

Home wiring may not be the hottest of topics, but get it wrong and, well, things can certainly get exciting. As electric vehicles become more commonplace, more and more people are going to start looking into what it will take to get more current running to their cars -- nobody's going to want to wait around for a 110V trickle charge. Leviton is a big name in home wiring and automation circles and has launched the Evr-Green sub-brand. One of its first products will be a pre-wiring kit for Level 2 charging stations, like GE's WattStation. Level 2 chargers offer 240V and, with the Evr-Green pre-wiring kit, will be basically plug and play. The kits are said to cost around $200 -- though naturally that won't include the cost of installation for the kit itself.

[wbeardell Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:13AM]

with the current technology, it will only take a spark in someone's mind to fix this.
pun(s) intended

[Juggernaut408 Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:23AM]

Yep makes a lot of sense. Going from a fuel hungry car to an electric because its way better. Most electricity we get is from the dirtiest most polluting resource out there. COAL!

[Evster88 Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:36AM]

@Juggernaut408 There are far more ways to get clean electricity than clean gasoline.

[Bandigolo Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:36AM]

@Juggernaut408

That's not true. But even for the parts of the country where it is true, the benefits outweigh the negative impact of increased grid draw. It's all about controlled emissions.

[itsymbal Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:36AM]

@Juggernaut408
Most electricity we get is NOT from COAL. *WE* get only 28% of our electricity from coal ( by WE I mean NStar in Massachusetts). *WE* get all (100%) our electricity from wind (we being my family) - and anyone else who uses nStar in Mass can do that also.
Check your facts and don't speak for everyone.

[lgs Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:38AM]

@Juggernaut408
It should be up to you to decide where your electricity comes from. My utility company offers 100% renewable electricity at a small premium. I think is worth the cost.
It's like the markets where ethanol cars get an environmental tax relief, and then many drivers decide to run them on petrol anyway because it's cheaper.

[A25i Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:39AM]

@Juggernaut408
Well your Mom stopped letting use use the static electricity generated from her thighs rubbing together. So, we had to go back to coal.

[lgs Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:32AM]

> -- nobody's going to want to wait around for a 110V trickle charge.

Really? I rarely drive more than a few kms most days, and would be fine with a trickle. Of course, I would still need a plug-in hybrid or a second, non-electric, car for the rare excursions out of town.

[rlopin Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:39AM]

@lgs If the out-of-town excursions are that rare, you'd be better off renting, financially speaking.

[lgs Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:44AM]

@rlopin
Financially, yes. But it's more awkward to plan and I always find the rental cars that are available to be subpar when it comes to safety features and gas mileage.

[TracyInCary Posted Jul 26th 2010 12:46PM]

So this may be a dumb question, but I really am serious about it.

With the proliferation of these "free" charging stations to encourage people to get ev cars, will we hit a point where it's economical for people to go there, get a tank full of electrons, and take them home to power their houses? With my electric bill hitting $240 last month (without the 50% markup for renewable sources!) it's starting to sound possible.

[roadmachine Posted Jul 26th 2010 1:05PM]

cool!
electric vehicles are making fast inroads into the world...

http://www.thekpv.com
The Hybrid Electric Kinetic Photovoltaic Vehicle