Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Scientists tweak wireless power transfer, Tesla nods happily in his grave]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/nc-state-university-wireless-power-transfer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/nc-state-university-wireless-power-transfer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/nc-state-university-wireless-power-transfer/#comments nc-state-university-wireless-power-transfer

Wireless charging may be all the rage these days, but actually beaming electricity -- as sketched above by the man Tesla himself -- still has some snags. North Carolina State U researchers have found a way to possibly vanquish the biggest problem: the difficulty of exactly matching resonant frequencies to amplify current. If external factors like temperature change the tuning of a transmitter even slightly then power drops will occur, but circuitry developed by the NC State scientists would allow receivers to detect these changes and automatically re-tune themselves to match. This could make for more potent car and device charging in the future and, if they stretch the distances a bit, maybe we'll finally get the wire-free utopia Nikola dreamed up 120 years ago.

Scientists tweak wireless power transfer, Tesla nods happily in his grave originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charging stationChargingStationEVinductive chargingInductiveChargingMagnetic InductionMagneticInductionNC StateNC State UniversityNcStateNcStateUniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityNorthCarolinaStateUniversityTeslawireless chargingwireless powerwireless power consortiumwireless power transferWirelessChargingWirelessPowerWirelessPowerConsortiumWirelessPowerTransferwitricityWed, 16 May 2012 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Pvilion's solar charging station brings the battery-powered cars to the yard]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/pvilions-solar-charging-station-battery-cars-pflugerville-texas/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/pvilions-solar-charging-station-battery-cars-pflugerville-texas/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/pvilions-solar-charging-station-battery-cars-pflugerville-texas/#comments Ever had a hankering to tear through Pflugerville, Texas en route to... well, anywhere? If you're a proud owner of an all-electric vehicle, your answer to that may soon change. Pvilion has just unveiled a new solar charging station that looks fit for a Hollywood thriller, relying on 1/8-inch panels flexed onto stainless steel sheets to create the "twist" seen above. Details about installation and power remain under wraps, but you can dig into a bit more eye-candy in the Via link below.

Pvilion's solar charging station brings the battery-powered cars to the yard originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobilecarcar chargerCarChargerchargerchargingcharging stationChargingStationelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleEVPvilionvehicleThu, 05 Jan 2012 08:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla bucks industry standard with new charging system for Model S]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/tesla-bucks-industry-standard-with-new-charging-system-for-model/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/tesla-bucks-industry-standard-with-new-charging-system-for-model/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/tesla-bucks-industry-standard-with-new-charging-system-for-model/#comments
At a time when most EV manufacturers are converging toward charging station conformity, Tesla is still marching to the beat of its own drum. Late last month, the company unveiled a new plug and charger that looks notably different from the J1772 connector -- the SAE International standard you'll find on most electric cars, including the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. The new system, which will be available for the upcoming Model S, consists of a lightweight plug and wall-mounted unit that can supply 240 volts at up to 80 amps. It also features a comparatively thin cable that promises to deliver fast charging at 480 volts, which, according to the company, should give the Model S an extra boost. When connected to a 240 volt outlet, the car will be able to re-juice at a rate of 62 miles of travel per hour of charging. And while its streamlined aesthetics may signal a shift away from the J1772, Tesla's new charger does feature standard connectors for 120 volt and 240 volt outlets, and will ship with an adapter for industry standard plugs. So why did the manufacturer choose to ignore the J1772? CEO Elon Musk certainly has his reasons. Speaking to the New York Times, Musk poetically described the standard connector as "absolutely terrible, extremely ugly and low power." Tesla's system, by contrast, is more like "a beautiful advanced alien artifact that arrived in the middle of the night." He then went on to say how he really feels. Read more, at the source link below.

Tesla bucks industry standard with new charging system for Model S originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>240 volt240Voltchargingcharging stationChargingStationdesignelectric vehicleElectricVehicleElon MuskElonMuskenergyEVJ1772model sModelSplug inplug standardPlugInPlugStandardre chargeReChargeSAE InternationalSaeInternationalstandardTeslatesla model stesla motorsTeslaModelSTeslaMotorsMon, 07 Nov 2011 04:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan's new charging technology will juice your EV in ten minutes, ten years from now]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/11/nissans-new-charging-technology-will-juice-your-ev-in-ten-minut/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/11/nissans-new-charging-technology-will-juice-your-ev-in-ten-minut/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/11/nissans-new-charging-technology-will-juice-your-ev-in-ten-minut/#comments
Nearly a month after unveiling its revamped quick charger, Nissan has now announced that it's working on new technology that would make EV charging... well, quicker. A lot quicker. Developed alongside researchers from Japan's Kansai University, the manufacturer's approach would allow drivers to fully charge their plug-ins in just ten minutes, without taking any toll on a lithium-ion battery's storage or voltage. Nissan says it could achieve this by tinkering with a charger's capacitor -- more specifically, by replacing its carbon electrode with one based on a composite of tungsten oxide and vanadium oxide. Industry insiders, however, say this technology may not reach the commercial level for another ten years -- substantially longer than ten minutes.

Nissan's new charging technology will juice your EV in ten minutes, ten years from now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 minutes10Minutesbatterycapacitorcarchargerchargingcharging stationChargingStationelectricelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleEVEV chargerEvChargergreenjapanKansai UniversityKansaiUniversityLithium Ionlithium ion batteryLithiumIonLithiumIonBatterynissannissan leafNissanLeaftransportTue, 11 Oct 2011 09:14:00 EST<![CDATA[350Green to install 400 EV charging stations across the US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/350green-to-install-400-ev-charging-stations-across-the-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/350green-to-install-400-ev-charging-stations-across-the-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/350green-to-install-400-ev-charging-stations-across-the-us/#comments ChargePoint EV charging stations are still hard to come by here in the US and, while 400 new ones won't exactly blanket the nation, we'll take what we can get. 350Green is teaming up with Coulomb Technologies to build exactly that many new ChargePoint stations across New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana and California. With the latest announcement the ChargePoint Network is expected to grow to over 1,000 locations, many with fast charging capabilities. We wouldn't exactly call the plan a game changer but, like we said, every little bit helps. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading 350Green to install 400 EV charging stations across the US

350Green to install 400 EV charging stations across the US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>350greenchargepointchargepoint networkChargepointNetworkcharging stationcharging stationsChargingStationChargingStationsCoulombcoulomb technologiesCoulombTechnologieselectric vehicleelectric vehicle chargingelectric vehiclesElectricVehicleElectricVehicleChargingElectricVehiclesevev charging stationev charging stationsEvChargingStationEvChargingStationsevsFri, 23 Sep 2011 14:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips Sonicare DiamondClean USB toothbrush to stay fresh at your desk]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/philips-sonicare-diamondclean-usb-toothbrush-to-stay-fresh-at-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/philips-sonicare-diamondclean-usb-toothbrush-to-stay-fresh-at-yo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/philips-sonicare-diamondclean-usb-toothbrush-to-stay-fresh-at-yo/#comments For the modern dental enthusiast, we present to you the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean USB toothbrush -- because keeping your stank breath fresh at your computer is essential for early morning Skype calls. Long since gone are the days where brushing your teeth was limited to the bathroom. Nowadays, you'll need to keep those chompers fresh no matter where you might find yourself, including (but not limited to): the computer lab at school, your home office, your boss' office, or maybe even the Apple Store. Claiming up to 100 percent plaque removal and 44 percent more bristles, some are going so far as to call this £250 ($405) teeth gleamer the "iPod of toothbrushes." Check out the full PR and the so fresh, so clean jam after the break.

Update: the folks at Philips emailed to let us know the USB toothbrush will sell for a suggested $219.99 in the US.

Continue reading Philips Sonicare DiamondClean USB toothbrush to stay fresh at your desk

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean USB toothbrush to stay fresh at your desk originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applechargerchargingcharging stationChargingStationcleandentaldental careDental healthdental hygieneDentalCareDentalHealthDentalHygienedentistdiamondcleaniPodphilipsPhilips Sonicarephilips sonicare diamondcleanPhilipsSonicarePhilipsSonicareDiamondcleanskypeteethtoothtoothbrushtoothbrushestoothpasteusbusb 2.0usb driveUsb2.0UsbDriveFri, 12 Aug 2011 01:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/aviiq-portable-charging-station-does-kitsch-free-usb-juicing-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/aviiq-portable-charging-station-does-kitsch-free-usb-juicing-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/aviiq-portable-charging-station-does-kitsch-free-usb-juicing-in/#comments We've seen some rather inventive USB chargers in our time, but surprisingly few have managed to make charging while traveling a painless process. Aviiq's new Portable Charging Station, on the other hand, has threatened to make the outside world a more welcoming place when it comes to juicing up. Acting as a sort of USB hub in a bag, this little black travel sleeve lets you pack and power three USB devices -- even an iPad -- with one outlet. What's more, the station allows for easy syncing by way of a retractable USB port. So $80 ain't cheap, and it won't cook up pork and beans while you sing Camptown Races, but if you're willing to shell out a little extra scratch for a practical USB travel charger, you can get your hands on one at the source link below. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag

Aviiq Portable Charging Station does kitsch-free USB juicing in small black bag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesAccessoryAviiqAviiq Portable Charging StationAviiqPortableChargingStationbagbagsbatterybattery chargerBatteryChargercasecaseschargerchargingcharging stationChargingStationPortable Charging StationPortableChargingStationtraveltravel bagtravel bagsTravelBagTravelBagsusbusb chargerUSB chargingUSB hubUsbChargerUsbChargingUsbHubWed, 27 Jul 2011 02:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/sanya-skypump-charges-your-ev-illuminates-parking-lots-using-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/sanya-skypump-charges-your-ev-illuminates-parking-lots-using-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/sanya-skypump-charges-your-ev-illuminates-parking-lots-using-wi/#comments So you're the first person in town to adopt an electric vehicle (EV), even clearing room for that 240v charging station in the garage. But what do you when you venture far from home, edging past the 200 mile mark on your Tesla Roadster? Well, if the Sanya Skypump ever sees the light of day (from its 150-watt solar panel), the hybrid solar / wind turbine-powered charging station will be making its way to parking lots around the world, pairing with a GE WattStation to juice up your EV as you shop at the mall, or browse a certain tech site from the office. The WattStation can theoretically recharge your EV in four to eight hours, though we're not sure how those figures translate with this particular setup. The Skypump system is based on Sanya's Streetlamp, which you can see in all its twirling glory in the B.o.B. music video remix just past the break.

Continue reading Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video)

Sanya Skypump charges your EV, illuminates parking lots using wind and rays (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargerchargingcharging infrastructurecharging stationChargingInfrastruChargingInfrastructureChargingStationelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVGEGeneral ElectricGeneralElectrichybridinfrastructuresanesane streetlampSaneStreetlampsanya skypumpSanyaSkypumpskypumpsolarsolar powerSolarPowersunturbinevideoWattStationWattStation chargerWattstationChargerwindwind powerwind turbineWindPowerWindTurbineSun, 24 Jul 2011 19:24:00 EST<![CDATA[142 electric vehicle charging stations head to Massachusetts, Nantucket and MV not included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/142-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-head-to-massachusetts-na/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/142-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-head-to-massachusetts-na/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/142-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-head-to-massachusetts-na/#commentsThings are lookin' up in New England -- particularly for those who crisscross Yawkey Way with an electric vehicle. A grand total of 142 EV charging stations are slated to hit The Bay State in the coming months, with 25 communities across the commonwealth to get gifted. Boston reports that the majority of 'em will be in "common commuter or traveler spots," places like downtown parking garages, MBTA lots, shopping malls, etc. The bulk of the boxes will be part of the ChargePoint network, and we're told that the rates for recharging will be set by "municipalities on public land and by property owners on private land," depending on where each box is planted. So, is the charging station rollout between NY and MA the new Yankees vs. Red Sox? Nah, but a techie can dream.

142 electric vehicle charging stations head to Massachusetts, Nantucket and MV not included originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMWbostonchargepointChargePoint AmericaChargepointAmericacharging stationChargingStationCoulomb TechnologiesCoulombTechnologiesdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevmassachusettssolarsolar powersolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredSun, 24 Jul 2011 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Car2go brings North America's first all-electric carsharing program to San Diego]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/car2go-brings-north-americas-first-all-electric-carsharing-prog/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/car2go-brings-north-americas-first-all-electric-carsharing-prog/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/car2go-brings-north-americas-first-all-electric-carsharing-prog/#comments
When we tried out car2go's carsharing program earlier this year, we knew it was only a matter of time before the service rolled out to other parts of the country. Little did we know, however, that it would be doing so atop a flotilla of EVs. Yesterday, the Daimler subsidiary announced that San Diego will be the next city to adopt car2go, making it the first in North America to boast a completely electric carsharing system. The program will kick off sometime before the end of this year, when 300 Smart Fortwo plug-ins storm the city, each powered by a 30 kW electric propulsion system and a lithium ion battery that promises to last for up to 84 miles on a single charge. Whenever the cars run out of juice, drivers will be able to recharge at any of the 1,000 Blink EV charging stations (due to be installed by the end of 2011), before heading off to windsail, buy white linen pants, or whatever people do under perennial sunshine. Curiosity piqued? Steer past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Car2go brings North America's first all-electric carsharing program to San Diego

Car2go brings North America's first all-electric carsharing program to San Diego originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobatteryBlinkblink evBlinkEvcaliforniacar sharingcar2gocarscarsharingcharging stationChargingStationdaimlerelectricelectric propulsionelectric vehicleElectricPropulsionElectricVehicleEVEV charging stationEvChargingStationLithium Ionlithium ion batteryLithiumIonLithiumIonBatterySan DiegoSanDiegosharingsmart fortwoSmartFortwotransportThu, 14 Jul 2011 10:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Select IKEA stores to host Blink electric vehicle charging stations, Volts now suitable for furniture pickup]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/select-ikea-stores-to-host-blink-electric-vehicle-charging-stati/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/select-ikea-stores-to-host-blink-electric-vehicle-charging-stati/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/select-ikea-stores-to-host-blink-electric-vehicle-charging-stati/#comments Need to pick up a foursome of Detolf display cases? Better know a pal with a pickup, bub. Unless, of course, your nearest IKEA happens to be one of ten situated in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington. The famed furniture retailer has just nailed down a partnership with ECOtality, with a smattering of its western US stores to host Blink electric vehicle charging stations. Each of the sites be evaluated for feasibility and installation needs, and we're told that the first stations should become operational this fall. The pilot program is currently set to last through December of 2012, but we're guessing it'll end up surviving quite a bit longer -- after all, it was already tough enough to resist a weekly trip to this place. Now? Swedish meatballs just become a daily affair.

Continue reading Select IKEA stores to host Blink electric vehicle charging stations, Volts now suitable for furniture pickup

Select IKEA stores to host Blink electric vehicle charging stations, Volts now suitable for furniture pickup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArizonablinkCaliforniachargingcharging stationChargingStationeco-friendlyECOtalityelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVgreenOregonretailshoppingsolarsolar powersolar poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredstorestoresWashingtonThu, 14 Jul 2011 05:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota premiers smart charging G-Stations in Japan, world instantly jealous]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/toyota-premiers-smart-charging-g-stations-in-japan-world-instan/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/toyota-premiers-smart-charging-g-stations-in-japan-world-instan/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/toyota-premiers-smart-charging-g-stations-in-japan-world-instan/#comments
Recharging tired EVs and plug-in hybrids in Japan just got a little more exciting thanks to Toyota's upcoming G-Station charger, which relies on contact-less smart-cards to identify vehicles and owners. Toyota's Windows Azure-powered Smart Center drives the machines, which allows users to connect to the internet and use smartphone apps to find chargers, receive notifications, and check usage history. The G-Station will be coming this July in two flavors, creatively named Type A for the standard and Type B for the more advanced model. Pricing for the aforementioned units will be 280,000 yen ($3,469 USD) and 448,000 yen ($5,549 USD) respectively. Toyota is expecting to sell around 3,000 units by the end of 2012, making these stations available to its retail car dealers, shopping malls and restaurants. Soon the outside of pachinko parlors will be just as electric as the inside.

Toyota premiers smart charging G-Stations in Japan, world instantly jealous originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AzurechargerChargeringchargerschargingcharging stationCharging stationsChargingStationChargingStationscloudcloud computingCloudComputingcomputingelectric carselectric vehicleElectricCarsElectricVehicleinternetJapanplugplug inplug-in hybridPlug-inHybridPlugInSmart CenterSmartCenterstationToyotaWindows AzureWindows7WindowsAzureThu, 23 Jun 2011 09:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Pininfarina's stunning tree-shaped Antares EV charging station should be more than a prototype]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/pininfarinas-stunning-tree-shaped-antares-ev-charging-station-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/pininfarinas-stunning-tree-shaped-antares-ev-charging-station-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/pininfarinas-stunning-tree-shaped-antares-ev-charging-station-s/#comments Despite being first showcased in May, Pininfarina's Antares has just slipped across our desks -- and frankly, it's a concept too gorgeous for us not to share. The beautiful tree-like structure -- comprised of steel and aluminum -- supports 20 photovoltaic cells, which the Italians reckon can produce up to 4.6 kilowatts, or just about enough juice to top up two fifty-mile range EVs. That's the plan anyway; we'll supposedly know more later this year, but given Pininfarina's past EV efforts, maybe not. Either way, consider this our formal pre-order request for two -- they'd look perfect right outside Engadget HQ.

Pininfarina's stunning tree-shaped Antares EV charging station should be more than a prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antarescharging stationChargingStationelectric carelectric carsElectricCarElectricCarsEVEV chargerEV chargingev charging stationEvChargerEvChargingEvChargingStationpininfarinapininfarina antaresPininfarinaAntaresWed, 22 Jun 2011 05:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Strawberry Tree brings free, solar-powered charging to Belgrade's BlackBerrys, more (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/strawberry-tree-brings-free-solar-powered-charging-to-belgrade/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/strawberry-tree-brings-free-solar-powered-charging-to-belgrade/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/strawberry-tree-brings-free-solar-powered-charging-to-belgrade/#commentsDead battery in Belgrade? Head to the city's Obrenovac district, where a group of students has developed the world's first public charging station powered entirely by solar energy. Known as the Strawberry Tree, the structure's 16 ports support a variety of handhelds, allowing pedestrians to juice up their cell phones in just ten to 15 minutes, at no charge. Its built-in batteries can also store up to a month's worth of back-up energy, enabling the station to hum along at night, or even during Serbia's less sunny seasons. In the first 40 days following its November launch, the Strawberry Tree logged some 10,000 charging sessions -- or about ten charges per hour. Creator MilosĖŒ Milisavljevic was just 17 years old when he came up with the idea, and now, at the ripe old age of 22, is looking to plant new stations across other Serbian cities, through his Strawberry Energy NGO. He says these installations won't generate much revenue from consumers, but that's not really the idea:

"Energy from the sun is free, and it would be unethical to charge people to use the Strawberry Tree...We are trying to inspire young people to think about the source of the energy they use, and behave and act responsibly."

You can check out the Strawberry Tree in the video below, or find out more about Milisavljevic's ideal-driven endeavors in the full PR.

Continue reading Strawberry Tree brings free, solar-powered charging to Belgrade's BlackBerrys, more (video)

Strawberry Tree brings free, solar-powered charging to Belgrade's BlackBerrys, more (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgradecell phoneCellPhonecharging stationChargingStationenergyEUgreengreen energyGreenEnergymobilemobile chargerMobileChargerngophonepublicrenewable energyRenewableEnergyresearch in motionResearchInMotionRIMserbiasmartphonesolarsolar chargersolar powerSolarChargerSolarPowerstationstrawberrystrawberry energystrawberry treeStrawberryEnergyStrawberryTreestudentsustainable energySustainableEnergyteenvideoFri, 17 Jun 2011 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Smug alert: Google says it has largest corporate EV charging network in the US (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/smug-alert-google-says-it-has-largest-ev-charging-network-in-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/smug-alert-google-says-it-has-largest-ev-charging-network-in-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/smug-alert-google-says-it-has-largest-ev-charging-network-in-th/#comments
Things are just getting greener and greener over at Google. Yesterday, the company triumphantly declared that its Mountain View campus now boasts the largest corporate EV charging network in the US, with some 200 chargers currently in place, plus an extra 250 that are on the way. It's all part of El Goog's RechargeIt sustainability initiative, launched in 2007, which has also given rise to the Gfleet -- a set of company-owned plug-ins made available for employees. Now that Google has purchased some extra Chevy Volts and Nissan Leafs, this Gfleet will eventually expand to include a total of 30 EVs, which explains the expansion of its ChargePoint Network. The ultimate goal is to have charging stations at five percent of Mountain View's parking spaces, all of which will be searchable on Google Maps, and available for employees to use for free. The company hopes this initiative will encourage more people to purchase EVs, and estimates that it'll eventually save a total of 5,400 tonnes of CO2 per year -- the equivalent to removing about 2,000 cars from the road. Head past the break for a video on the program, or hit up the source link if you'd like to help Google pat itself on the back.

Continue reading Smug alert: Google says it has largest corporate EV charging network in the US (video)

Smug alert: Google says it has largest corporate EV charging network in the US (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autocampuscarchargepointchargepoint networkChargepointNetworkchargerchargingcharging stationChargingStationchevy voltChevyVoltCO2corporateelectric vehicleElectricVehicleemissionsemployeeenvironmentEnvironmentallyFriendlyEVev infrastructureEvInfrastructureexpansiongfleetgooglegoogle campusGoogleCampusgreeninitiativemountain viewMountainViewnissan leafNissanLeafrechargeitvideoFri, 10 Jun 2011 07:10:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW, Porsche, others announce support for HomePlug's EV networking spec]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/bmw-porsche-others-announce-support-for-homeplugs-ev-networki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/bmw-porsche-others-announce-support-for-homeplugs-ev-networki/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/bmw-porsche-others-announce-support-for-homeplugs-ev-networki/#comments The HomePlug Powerline Alliance already wants to tether your entire household to the Internet, and it may soon extend its reach to your garage, as well. At Computex today, the company announced that Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen have all agreed to support its HomePlug Green PHY (GP) technology as their EV charging interface of choice. The networking specification would allow electric car owners to link their plug-ins to the Smart Grid via the same ports used to charge their batteries, opening up new, Powerline-based possibilities. Once your EV hooks up to the network, it may be able to conduct system checks in real-time, for instance, or provide instant feedback on performance or the condition of your battery. The low power GP spec will also be interoperable with HomePlug's forthcoming AV2 spec, though it's still not clear when we can expect to see Germany's automakers incorporate it into production. Zip past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading BMW, Porsche, others announce support for HomePlug's EV networking spec

BMW, Porsche, others announce support for HomePlug's EV networking spec originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audibmwcarchargerchargingcharging portcharging stationChargingPortChargingStationcomputexcomputex 2011Computex2011daimlerelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVgermanygreengridhomeplughomeplug greenhomeplug green phyhomeplug powerlinehomeplug powerline allianceHomeplugGreenHomeplugGreenPhyHomeplugPowerlineHomeplugPowerlineAlliancehybridhybrid carsHybridCarsintegrationinterfacenetworkporschesmart gridSmartGridspecspecificationtransportvehiclevolkswagenWed, 01 Jun 2011 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone truck can recharge 2,000 devices at once, is coming to an Isle of Wight near you]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/vodafone-truck-can-recharge-2-000-devices-at-once-is-coming-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/vodafone-truck-can-recharge-2-000-devices-at-once-is-coming-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/vodafone-truck-can-recharge-2-000-devices-at-once-is-coming-to/#comments Nothing like a dead battery to kill your Foursquare buzz at a British summer concert, eh? Vodafone feels your pain and so, in an act of brilliant PR, is rolling out a 40-foot truck capable of charging up to 2,000 devices simultaneously. Peeking inside the 44-ton station, it's hard (for us, anyway) not to think of a bowling alley with cubbies, except they aren't filled with rental clown shoes, but outlets ready to revive iPhones, BlackBerrys, Nokia handsets, and a host of Android phones. The free service is made exclusive to Vodafone UK customers, and the carrier expects to charge roughly 72,000 handsets this summer alone. All told, our friends across the pond will get 11 chances this year to try it out, with the first public outing coming at the Isle of Wight festival next month. If you'll be stuck elsewhere watching repeats of Lady Gaga's concert special on HBO, have a peek at the Union Jack-blanketed press shots below.

Gallery: Vodafone charging truck

Vodafone truck can recharge 2,000 devices at once, is coming to an Isle of Wight near you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 May 2011 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargingcharging stationcharging truckChargingStationChargingTruckrechargetruckUKVodafoneVodafone UKVodafoneUkThu, 26 May 2011 18:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Marines field test solar panels by day, watch Gomer Pyle by night]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/09/marines-field-test-solar-panels-by-day-watch-gomer-pyle-by-nigh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/09/marines-field-test-solar-panels-by-day-watch-gomer-pyle-by-nigh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/09/marines-field-test-solar-panels-by-day-watch-gomer-pyle-by-nigh/#comments
United States Marines are among the best-equipped soldiers on the planet, but more gadgets mean extra batteries to haul, adding dozens of pounds on extended missions. Troops in Afghanistan recently put that hot Middle Eastern sun to use, swapping spare batteries for placemat-size solar panels on a three-week patrol. Batts were replaced with extra bullets, so the soldiers didn't get off easy, but they were also able to reduce generator usage, making a significant dent in fuel consumption. It will be several years before all soldiers charge their radios, night vision goggles, and GPS devices using the sun, but the Marine Corps hopes to cut fuel use in half by 2025, so it's only a matter of time before solar-powered gadgets have a more permanent home on the battlefield. Sha-zam!

Marines field test solar panels by day, watch Gomer Pyle by night originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 May 2011 23:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charging stationChargingStationdefensemarinemarinesmilitarysolarsolar chargingSolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarChargingSolarPoweredus marineus marinesus militaryUsMarineUsMarinesusmcUsMilitarywargadgetweaponMon, 09 May 2011 23:42:00 EST<![CDATA[SOFT Rockers combine solar panels and moving furniture to charge your gadgets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/soft-rockers-combine-solar-panels-and-moving-furniture-to-charge/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/soft-rockers-combine-solar-panels-and-moving-furniture-to-charge/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/05/soft-rockers-combine-solar-panels-and-moving-furniture-to-charge/#commentsSOFT Rocker Wander through MIT's Killian Court and you'll spot something distinctly modern nestled amongst its classical buildings -- a set of solar-powered lounge chairs called SOFT Rockers. These curved, solar-panel-covered seats rotate on an axis to keep them facing the sun, generating additional energy from the rocking motion created when people climb inside. All that harvested electricity can be used to recharge gadgets plugged into the three USB ports and to illuminate a light strip on the inside of the loop. The teardrop-shaped charging stations were created by professor Sheila Kennedy and a team of students for the Festival of Art+Science+Technology (FAST) as an antidote to "conventional 'hard' urban infrastructure." Plus, they seem like a great place to charge your phone while evading Dean Wormer and riding out double secret probation. Check out the gallery below for more images.

Gallery: SOFT Rocker

SOFT Rockers combine solar panels and moving furniture to charge your gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artchaircharging stationChargingStationFASTFestival of Art+Science+TechnologyFestivalOfArt+science+technologyfurnitureMITSheila KennedySheilaKennedySOFT RockerSOFT RockersSoftRockerSoftRockerssolarSolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarPoweredUSBThu, 05 May 2011 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota and WiTricity team up for OTA car charging]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/28/toyota-and-witricity-team-up-for-ota-car-charging/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/28/toyota-and-witricity-team-up-for-ota-car-charging/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/28/toyota-and-witricity-team-up-for-ota-car-charging/#comments Some day you'll charge everything wirelessly -- phones, cars, graphing calculators, all using the same basic technology. That's the sort of utopian vision Toyota had in mind when it formed the Wireless Battery-charging Alliance with WiTricity. The young Massachusetts-based company is pushing "resonance" technology, which charges electronics without contact and is supposedly more efficient than induction-based charging -- a category that includes the popular Qi standard. This new partnership ups the ante, adding electric vehicles to the list of chargeable devices, a vision of the future where Prius batteries can be filled wirelessly, while sitting in driveways and parking garages. Exxon's engineers are no doubt working to perfect the hose-free gasoline transfer as we speak. PR after the break.

[Thanks, Paul]

Continue reading Toyota and WiTricity team up for OTA car charging

Toyota and WiTricity team up for OTA car charging originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carchargingcharging stationChargingStationelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleEVgreenpriusresonanceresonance chargingResonanceChargingToyotawireless chargingWirelessChargingwitricityThu, 28 Apr 2011 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[ChargePoint lets you reserve electric charging stations, cuts down on alternative fueling fistfights]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/chargepoint-lets-you-reserve-electric-charging-stations-cuts-do/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/chargepoint-lets-you-reserve-electric-charging-stations-cuts-do/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/chargepoint-lets-you-reserve-electric-charging-stations-cuts-do/#comments One day in the future, we'll all drive around in electric cars and gas pumps will be replaced by clean charging stations. Also, free ice cream. Until then, get in line -- or better yet, reserve a spot online courtesy of ChargePoint's online database of alternative fueling stations. The Coulomb Technologies-run site displays charging stations on a Google Map, with a colored pin letting you know in real-time whether someone is currently topping off their Tesla. If you're the type with foresight -- you did buy an electric car, after all -- you can schedule some quality time with an outlet on the site using your ChargePass card. The cost of charging is determined by the station's manager, and appointments can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance. The site has some serious competition on the EV charging map, courtesy of the newly launched GeoEVSE, a collaboration between US Department of Energy, Google, and 80 other companies. Maybe the new reservations feature will help ChargePoint win the race to your heart.

Continue reading ChargePoint lets you reserve electric charging stations, cuts down on alternative fueling fistfights

ChargePoint lets you reserve electric charging stations, cuts down on alternative fueling fistfights originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car chargingCarChargingchargepointchargingcharging stationChargingStationcoloumbcoloumb technologiesColoumbTechnologiesElectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleenvironmentgooglegoogle mapsGoogleMapsGreenMon, 25 Apr 2011 21:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Los Angeles pilot program offers up to $2,000 off EV charging stations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/los-angeles-pilot-program-offers-up-to-2-000-off-ev-charging-st/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/los-angeles-pilot-program-offers-up-to-2-000-off-ev-charging-st/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/los-angeles-pilot-program-offers-up-to-2-000-off-ev-charging-st/#comments
You can already get a pretty hefty federal rebate on an electric vehicle, and it looks like at least some folks in Los Angeles can now also save a good chunk of change on an EV charging station. LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa just announced a new pilot program this week that will provide rebates of "up to $2,000" on home EV charging stations -- to the first 1,000 applicants, that is. That will apparently be expanded soon enough, however, with the city promising to begin accepting additional applications on May 1st, and eventually cover up to 5,000 EV chargers. Those receiving the rebate will also be required to participate in the LADWP's Residential Time-of-Use Rate that offers discounts for charging during off-peak hours, and the city will monitoring charging patterns in an effort to determine how to best allocate resources. Head on past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Los Angeles pilot program offers up to $2,000 off EV charging stations

Los Angeles pilot program offers up to $2,000 off EV charging stations originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Antonio VillaraigosaAntonioVillaraigosachargercharging stationChargingStationelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleevev chargerev charging stationEvChargerEvChargingStationlalos angelesLosAngelesVillaraigosaMon, 25 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Amsterdam orders 125 public EV charging stations, hastens the death of internal combustion]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/24/amsterdam-orders-125-public-ev-charging-stations-hastens-the-de/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/24/amsterdam-orders-125-public-ev-charging-stations-hastens-the-de/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/24/amsterdam-orders-125-public-ev-charging-stations-hastens-the-de/#comments Amsterdam is known for its affinity for two-wheeled transportation, but the cycling-crazed city is also making a serious commitment to EVs for those Dutch who prefer driving. As a part of a plan introduced two years ago to eliminate internal combustion from its streets by 2040, the Netherlands' capital is looking to add to its existing 100 EV charging stations. The City Council has charged Dutch power company Essent with the installation of an additional 125 public plug-in points this year, with the possibility of adding 625 more. These new chargers may make it easier to juice up your electric car, but given the current price of EVs, we aren't sure how many Amsterdam residents will trade in their Kalkhoffs for Fiat 500s and Smart ForTwos. PR's after the break.

Continue reading Amsterdam orders 125 public EV charging stations, hastens the death of internal combustion

Amsterdam orders 125 public EV charging stations, hastens the death of internal combustion originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amsterdamcharging stationChargingStationdutchelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleessentevev chargerev chargingev charging stationEvChargerEvChargingEvChargingStationnetherlandsSun, 24 Apr 2011 06:06:00 EST<![CDATA[ECOtality announces Blink Mobile EV charging app]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/21/ecotality-announces-blink-mobile-ev-charging-app/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/21/ecotality-announces-blink-mobile-ev-charging-app/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/21/ecotality-announces-blink-mobile-ev-charging-app/#comments It's fast becoming apparent that no electric vehicle is complete without an accompanying smartphone app to help you find places to charge it, and it looks like ECOtality isn't about to let that trend pass it by. It's just announced its new Blink Mobile app for iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices, which will let folks locate Blink charging stations, check up on the charger's status, and receive various alerts (like when your car is finished charging at home). Unfortunately, you can't download it just yet, but ECOtality says it will be available sometime this summer, with the iOS and Android apps likely to come out a bit ahead of the BlackBerry app -- a web-based app is also in development. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Continue reading ECOtality announces Blink Mobile EV charging app

ECOtality announces Blink Mobile EV charging app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappblackberryblinkblink mobileBlinkMobilechargingcharging stationcharging stationsChargingStationChargingStationseviosThu, 21 Apr 2011 07:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/google-helps-electric-car-owners-find-battery-charges-peace-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/google-helps-electric-car-owners-find-battery-charges-peace-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/google-helps-electric-car-owners-find-battery-charges-peace-of/#comments The biggest challenge of owning an electric vehicle aside from having to awkwardly pal around with Ed Begley Jr. all of the time? Finding a place to charge it, of course. The ever-green folks at Google have teamed up with the US Department of Energy and more than 80 companies to form the GeoEVSE Forum, an organization aimed at bringing diverse electric car resources under a single umbrella. Looking for one of those elusive Best Buy charging stations? Use the Google Maps database, helmed by the DOE, which currently offers some 600 alternative fueling stations, including electric charging, hydrogen, and natural gas. Now if only it could help us find a good deal on a Tesla.

Continue reading Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind

Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best BuyBestBuychargechargeschargingcharging stationChargingStationDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyDOEelectric carsElectricCarsenviromentGoogleGoogle MapsGoogleMapsgreenhydrogenMashupNatural GasNaturalGasTeslaWed, 20 Apr 2011 20:21:00 EST<![CDATA[RV parks offer EV owners respite from the road (and their range anxiety, too)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/rv-parks-offer-ev-owners-respite-from-the-road-and-their-range/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/rv-parks-offer-ev-owners-respite-from-the-road-and-their-range/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/rv-parks-offer-ev-owners-respite-from-the-road-and-their-range/#commentsEVs are pretty great for getting around major metropolitan areas, but many still feel some range anxiety when it comes time to leave the city limits. True, purpose-built charging stations are few and far between at the moment, but there's another charging option for those who enjoy going green and crave the open road: campgrounds. Turns out the 50-amp, 240-volt RV hookups found in such places can do double duty as juice dispensers for the depleted batteries in your Volt, Leaf, or Tesla. All electric powered roadwarriors need is an adapter to plug in, a few bucks to pay for current, and a few hours of free time. It's not as fast as fueling up the old fashioned way, but RV parks provide plenty of perks (swimming pools, lakes, and seniors who love poker, for example) not found at your average filling station. So, who's up for an eco-friendly road trip?

RV parks offer EV owners respite from the road (and their range anxiety, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 02:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>campgroundchargercharging stationChargingStationecoeco-friendlyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevgreenrv parkRvParkSun, 10 Apr 2011 02:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Israel gets its first EV battery swap station, makes charging stations obsolete]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/israel-gets-its-first-ev-battery-swap-station-makes-charging-st/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/israel-gets-its-first-ev-battery-swap-station-makes-charging-st/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/israel-gets-its-first-ev-battery-swap-station-makes-charging-st/#comments
Don't get us wrong, we think electric vehicles are totally rad and all, but there's still the whole recharging thing that makes us a little wary. That's why we're stoked to hear that Better Place's first battery swap station for EVs (and not just special Japanese cabbies) has officially opened its doors in Israel... for owners of the Renault Fluence Z.E. All it takes is an RFID card to enter the carwash-esque structure, and robots from below swap out your empty battery for a fully charged alternative while you occupy yourself for three minutes. No word on how much it'll cost for the opportunity, but we've got an inkling it won't be cheap. Fortunately, we've got apps and "get you home" guarantees for that additional peace of mind, but we do hope the concept eventually makes its way over to our shores. Of course, we're also still waiting for eternal battery life in all of our electronics, but until that day comes invisible robots changing batteries for us will suffice.

Israel gets its first EV battery swap station, makes charging stations obsolete originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobileautomobilesbatterybattery swapBatterySwapbetter placeBetterPlacecarcar batteryCarBatterycarscharge stationChargeStationchargingcharging stationChargingStationelectric carelectric vehicalElectricCarElectricVehicalevfluencerenaultrenault fluenceRenaultFluenceThu, 31 Mar 2011 13:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Leviton announces Evr-Green 120 portable EV charger, pledges no unsightly shedding of leaves]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/leviton-announces-evr-green-120-portable-ev-charger-pledges-no/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/leviton-announces-evr-green-120-portable-ev-charger-pledges-no/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/leviton-announces-evr-green-120-portable-ev-charger-pledges-no/#commentsLeviton announces Evr-Green 120 portable EV charger, pledges no unsightly shedding of leaves Lack of public EV charging stations got you down? Range anxiety a frustrating part of life? Wouldn't life be grand if you could just carry around an outlet in your trunk? Smile, friend, because Leviton's got just the bit your boot's been looking for. It's the Evr-Green 120 Level 1 Portable Charger, able to be plugged into any 15- or 20-amp household outlet before the other end goes into your car's receptacle. Level 1 chargers are not the fastest, often taking 20 or more hours to put a full charge into big batteries, but if you just need to top-up and do it on the go this could be a great solution. It's also one of the first truly portable chargers we've seen. The Best Buy charger for the Focus Electric (which is also from Leviton) is technically portable, but it's obviously meant for bolting to the wall. This one looks to fit neatly in the trunk right next to all your hockey gear, though the ice might well be thawed before this releases -- Leviton is only pledging a rather vague "2011" for availability.

Continue reading Leviton announces Evr-Green 120 portable EV charger, pledges no unsightly shedding of leaves

Leviton announces Evr-Green 120 portable EV charger, pledges no unsightly shedding of leaves originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargercharging stationChargingStationelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevevr-green 120Evr-green120level 1level 1 charging stationLevel1Level1ChargingStationlevitonportable chargerPortableChargerThu, 31 Mar 2011 11:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Coulomb's ChargePoint app now provides EV charging station status]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/coulombs-chargepoint-app-now-provides-ev-charging-station-statu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/coulombs-chargepoint-app-now-provides-ev-charging-station-statu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/coulombs-chargepoint-app-now-provides-ev-charging-station-statu/#comments There's unfortunately still no Android version, but Coulomb has now rolled out a fairly significant update to its ChargePoint app for iOS and BlackBerry. In addition to helping you locate EV charging stations in the United States, Europe and Australia, the app will now also provide realtime charging status information, including things like the total cost to charge and the current charging station configuration. Other improvements include a new landscape mode, the ability to view your home ChargePoint station, and the ability to just search for nearby ChargePoint stations (within a thousand foot radius). Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Coulomb's ChargePoint app now provides EV charging station status

Coulomb's ChargePoint app now provides EV charging station status originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appblackberrychargepointcharging stationChargingStationcoulombevev chargerev charging stationEvChargerEvChargingStationiosTue, 29 Mar 2011 17:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Google HQ gets juiced with Plugless Power EV charging unit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/google-hq-gets-juiced-with-plugless-power-ev-charging-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/google-hq-gets-juiced-with-plugless-power-ev-charging-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/google-hq-gets-juiced-with-plugless-power-ev-charging-unit/#comments
We've seen it adorned with a giant Honeycomb and an oversized Gingerbread man, and now Google's bringing a more practical addition to its Mountain View campus -- specifically, a Plugless Power EV charging station. Its maker touts the installation as "the first public release" of the handsfree re-juicing system, and says it will eventually provided power to a fleet of low-speed EVs already in use at El Goog HQ -- the first of which has already been retrofitted to get pumped up. Who knows, maybe now we'll see something come of Google's claims to make electrical vehicles charge more efficiently. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Google HQ gets juiced with Plugless Power EV charging unit

Google HQ gets juiced with Plugless Power EV charging unit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycampuscarcar chargerCarChargercarschargerchargingcharging stationcharging stationsChargingStationChargingStationselectricelectric vehicleelectric vehicle chargingelectric vehicle charging stationsElectric vehiclesElectricVehicleElectricVehicleChargingElectricVehicleChargingStationsElectricVehiclesEVgooglegoogle campusGoogleCampusinductiveinductive chargingInductiveChargingplugless powerPluglessPowerproximityproximity chargerProximityChargervehiclewirelesswireless inductionwireless powerWirelessInductionWirelessPowerWed, 23 Mar 2011 18:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Hawaii funding deployment of up to 320 public EV chargers, islander Leafs say 'mahalo']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/hawaii-funding-deployment-of-up-to-320-public-ev-chargers-islan/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/hawaii-funding-deployment-of-up-to-320-public-ev-chargers-islan/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/hawaii-funding-deployment-of-up-to-320-public-ev-chargers-islan/#commentsHawaii funding deployment of up to 320 public EV chargers, islander Leafs say 'mahalo' If you don't have far to go, an electric car can make a lot of sense. You know what group of people doesn't have far to go? People who live on an island, that's who. For this reason we're feeling some synergistic love as the State of Hawaii partners with AeroVironment, a company that also makes some goofy looking UAVs for DARPA, to deploy up to 320 public EV charging stations plugs across Kauai, Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu. All will be 240v Level 2 units that can charge an average EV in between four to eight hours. That's plenty of time to grab your board and get worked on some swell -- or to work on your tan if you're feeling a little less aggro.

Update: Dan wrote in to let us know that Better Place is also getting a piece of this pie, securing $854,000 for "charging stations on all islands and the introduction of EVs to a rental car fleet."

Continue reading Hawaii funding deployment of up to 320 public EV chargers, islander Leafs say 'mahalo'

Hawaii funding deployment of up to 320 public EV chargers, islander Leafs say 'mahalo' originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 22:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>240vaerovironmentbetter placeBetterPlacecharging stationChargingStationelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleevhawaiilevel 2level 2 chargerLevel2Level2ChargerSun, 20 Mar 2011 22:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Beautiful Earth's NYC solar powered EV charger follows the sun to Brooklyn Bridge Park]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/19/beautiful-earths-nyc-solar-powered-ev-charger-follows-the-sun-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/19/beautiful-earths-nyc-solar-powered-ev-charger-follows-the-sun-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/19/beautiful-earths-nyc-solar-powered-ev-charger-follows-the-sun-t/#comments The solar-powered, green and white Beautiful Earth Group EV charging station, which once found its shipping container internals filled with a Mini E, is no longer. Well, it's no longer where it was, anyway. It's now somewhere completely different, a place that happens to be just down the road, a land known by many as Brooklyn. It's Brooklyn Bridge Park, specifically, and Better Earth has donated the thing to the facilities department there. It'll be used to charge up the service vehicles that patrol the place, apparently including a pair of GEM and Toro Workman EVs that look like they might have been Photoshopped into the promotional picture above. The presumably non-digitally-manipulated ones will all be recharged using the charging station's 24 solar cells, generating 5.6kW and, ultimately, saving the world. Or, at least, the Park.

Beautiful Earth's NYC solar powered EV charger follows the sun to Brooklyn Bridge Park originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beautiful earthbeautiful earth groupBeautifulEarthBeautifulEarthGroupbrooklynbrooklyn bridge parkBrooklynBridgeParkchargercharging stationChargingStationelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevsolarsolar-powered charging stationSolar-poweredChargingStationSat, 19 Mar 2011 07:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Renault introduces new 'get you home' guarantee for electric vehicles, but there's a catch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/renault-introduces-new-get-you-home-guarantee-for-electric-veh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/renault-introduces-new-get-you-home-guarantee-for-electric-veh/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/renault-introduces-new-get-you-home-guarantee-for-electric-veh/#comments
European auto-maker Renault wants EV buyers to know that if you run out of juice, it's got your back. Dubbed the "get you home" guarantee, the company will provide you with a loaner while they recharge your dead locomotive's battery. Of course, the offer only stands if it's due to 'uncontrollable circumstances' like inclement weather or unwieldy traffic, so don't just start trying to push that recommended range tough guy. The new policy should give folks without many charging stations or PlugShare participants nearby some added peace of mind. Sure beats having to wait for Enterprise to come pick you up, huh?

Renault introduces new 'get you home' guarantee for electric vehicles, but there's a catch originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaacarcarschargecharge stationChargeStationchargingcharging stationChargingStationelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleevplugsharerenaultroadside assistanceRoadsideAssistanceFri, 18 Mar 2011 08:22:00 EST<![CDATA[GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/ge-kicks-off-ev-experience-tour-promises-wattstations-for-all/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/ge-kicks-off-ev-experience-tour-promises-wattstations-for-all/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/ge-kicks-off-ev-experience-tour-promises-wattstations-for-all/#comments
Last week, GE kicked off its EV Experience Tour in San Francisco, to "bring GE experts together with local businesses, industry leaders, and public sector stakeholders for educational workshops, test drives, and dialogue on the business case for EV ecosystems." The Yves Behar-designed GE WattStation EV charger was on display at the event in both mock-up and ice sculpture form. We spent some time chatting with Luis Ramirez, CEO of GE Energy Industrial Solutions, and Clarence Nunn, President and CEO of GE Capital Fleet Services about the future of EV charging. We discussed efforts like PlugShare and the recent addition to EV charging stations to Google Maps, concepts like smart parking spots with embedded inductive charging, as well as ways to accommodate folks without garages who park their vehicles on city streets. They both assured us that GE is committed to providing an EV charging infrastructure for all, starting with the installation of a bunch of WattStations in San Francisco soon -- though they didn't say exactly how "soon". In the meantime, remember that EV charging is always just an outlet away. Take a look at our gallery below and jump past the break for the press release.

Gallery: GE kicks off EV Experience Tour

Continue reading GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all

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GE kicks off EV Experience Tour, promises WattStations for all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargerchargingcharging infrastructurecharging stationChargingInfrastruChargingInfrastructureChargingStationelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVGEGeneral ElectricGeneralElectricinfrastructureSan FranciscoSanFranciscoWattStationWattStation chargerWattstationChargerMon, 14 Mar 2011 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Nao robot gets a new charging station, Kinect / Wiimote controls]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/nao-robot-gets-a-new-charging-station-kinect-wiimote-controls/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/nao-robot-gets-a-new-charging-station-kinect-wiimote-controls/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/nao-robot-gets-a-new-charging-station-kinect-wiimote-controls/#comments
Robots that are able to find a charger and plug themselves in may not be that unique anymore, but most of those chargers tend to leave the robot with little to do while it replenishes its batteries. Not so with this new charger developed by Aldebaran Robotics for its Nao robot, which basically consists of a retractable extension cord that leaves the robot free to continue interacting with its owner, or simply sit down and chill out as the case may be. What's more, while that comes from Aldebaran itself, we're also now starting to see some results out of the company's new developer program, and it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that one of the first standout projects involves Wiimote and Kinect controls. Head on past the break to see both it and the new charging station on video.

Continue reading Nao robot gets a new charging station, Kinect / Wiimote controls

Nao robot gets a new charging station, Kinect / Wiimote controls originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aldebaranaldebaran roboticsAldebaranRoboticschargerchargingcharging stationChargingStationkinectnaonao robotNaoRobotvideowiimoteMon, 07 Mar 2011 20:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota to start selling home battery chargers in 2012, sate the electrical appetites of the Prii]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/toyota-to-start-selling-home-battery-chargers-in-2012-sate-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/toyota-to-start-selling-home-battery-chargers-in-2012-sate-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/toyota-to-start-selling-home-battery-chargers-in-2012-sate-the/#comments We've seen the plug-in Prius (a few times, actually), but what we hadn't seen was how Toyota planned to get the juice from the grid to its car until now. Turns out, the automaker plans to sell home battery chargers starting in 2012 so that buyers of PHEV Prii can fully take advantage of that plug in the front fender. The chargers come in two flavors: one for the garage and one for the exterior of your home, and will cost upwards of ¥200,000 ($2411) fully installed, making it quite a bit more than GM's $2000 Voltec charging station. The good news for us all is that Toyota's charger uses the same SAE J1772 plug found in the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, so we're hopefully just weeks away from the first-ever EV charger price wars. Popcorn grabbing seems a must given the circumstances.

Toyota to start selling home battery chargers in 2012, sate the electrical appetites of the Prii originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargercharging stationChargingStationelectric vehicle chargerElectricVehicleChargerevev chargerEvChargerpriipriusprius plug-inprius plug-in hybridPriusPlug-inPriusPlug-inHybridtoyotaWed, 23 Feb 2011 05:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford Focus Electric confirmed to not support fast charging, EV fragmentation looms large]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/ford-focus-electric-confirmed-to-not-support-fast-charging-ev-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/ford-focus-electric-confirmed-to-not-support-fast-charging-ev-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/ford-focus-electric-confirmed-to-not-support-fast-charging-ev-f/#commentsThought that fragmentation was reserved for the mobile OS realm? Think again. With the first (and second) waves of electric vehicles dribbling out to the streets, an obvious problem is becoming even more obvious. The city of Chicago is fixing to install 73 fast-charging EV stations by the end of the year, but two of the most commonly driven ones won't be able to take advantage. Chevy's Volt and Ford's Focus Electric will only support the slower Level 2 charging, leaving those faster ones for Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i MiEV owners to enjoy. As if that weren't headache-inducing enough, a slew of other automakers are reportedly planning to "sign on to a new standard for fast charging that would be incompatible with Chicago's infrastructure," and if you think the Windy City is alone in this mess, you're wrong. We've already heard of similar issues in the nation's capitol, and Jack Pokrzywa, manager of global ground vehicle standards for SAE International, still doesn't seem convinced that auto producers are really ready and willing to commit to a single fast-charging standard. HD DVD vs. Blu-ray was one thing, but thousands of vehicle chargers crowding up our cities once they become obsolete in a year? That's so not green.

Ford Focus Electric confirmed to not support fast charging, EV fragmentation looms large originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>350Greenchargingcharging stationChargingStationCharJit ExpressCharjitExpressChicagoconnectoreco-friendlyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVfocusfocus evFocusEvfordFord Focus ElectricFordFocusElectricgreenhybridillinoisplug-inplug-in vehiclePlug-inVehicleprotocolSAE InternationalSaeInternationalstandardMon, 21 Feb 2011 16:22:00 EST<![CDATA[UM students make cheap and portable solar charger / light source for developing nations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/um-students-make-cheap-and-portable-solar-charger-light-source/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/um-students-make-cheap-and-portable-solar-charger-light-source/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/31/um-students-make-cheap-and-portable-solar-charger-light-source/#comments Solar power is the most egalitarian of all energy sources, yet residents in many parts of the world still lack access to electricity. Three University of Michigan engineering students have created an affordable solution to this problem -- to the delight of camping geeks everywhere -- with the Emerald, a portable solar panel that does double duty as both a cellphone charger and personal light source. We've seen the personal solar panel idea before, but the price of entry made it an untenable solution for developing nations. Solar-powered light bulbs have been around for a while too, but the Emerald's light lasts for eight hours on a charge (as opposed to the bulbs' two to six hours), and it's able to fully charge a phone in the same time it takes an outlet to do the job. They aim to sell the device for the low, low, price of under twenty bucks for customers in the developing world, which is 90 percent cheaper than other solutions and 100 percent more awesome.

Continue reading UM students make cheap and portable solar charger / light source for developing nations

UM students make cheap and portable solar charger / light source for developing nations originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargerchargingcharging stationChargingStationelectricityenergygreenlightlightingsolarsolar chargersolar chargingsolar charging stationsolar energysolar lightsolar light bulbsolar lightssolar panelssolar powersolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarChargerSolarChargingSolarChargingStationSolarEnergySolarLightSolarLightBulbSolarLightsSolarPanelsSolarPowerSolarPowereduniversity of michiganUniversityOfMichiganvideoMon, 31 Jan 2011 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[HP / Palm's 9.7-inch Topaz tablet to use 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8660, Adreno 220 GPU]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/hp-palms-9-7-inch-topaz-tablet-to-use-1-2ghz-qualcomm-msm8660/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/hp-palms-9-7-inch-topaz-tablet-to-use-1-2ghz-qualcomm-msm8660/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/hp-palms-9-7-inch-topaz-tablet-to-use-1-2ghz-qualcomm-msm8660/#comments Looks like those whispers we heard about HP's Topaz having a 1.2GHz Qualcomm CPU were true. The folks over at Pre Central just scored an internal document detailing presumed specifications of HP's forthcoming 9.7-inch tablet, and it looks like the aforesaid CPU will be joined by an integrated Adreno 220 GPU, 512MB of DDR2 memory, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera and dual-band 802.11b/g/n WiFi. We're told to expect an oleophobic Gorilla Glass screen with a standard XGA (1024 x 768) resolution, options for 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage, optional WWAN, an accelerometer, gyroscope, light sensor, microphone and a battery that'll last for around eight hours in ideal circumstances. Naturally, webOS will be onboard, and we're hearing that a WiFi-only model will indeed hit the market at some point. As for the connected versions? HSPA, LTE and CDMA variants are rumored, with the former two likely to be SIM-locked while all three carry A-GPS.

It should be noted that these documents were apparently fresh as of last fall, so everything is clearly subject to change. That said, we're digging the reports that HP will be doing everything it can to fully support Flash on this here slate, and it may also consider a partnership with Blio for the digital bookworms in attendance. Naturally, cloud services is shaping up to be a huge deal, and it'll definitely support inductive charging via the Touchstone v2. These docs also affirm what we'd heard about integrated Beats Audio technology and Tap to Share, with the second-gen Touchstone to also handle wireless picture sharing, cordless audio streaming and tether-free video beaming (just to name a few). Hit the source link the full skinny, and feel free to pressure HP to move February 9th a little closer to today.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HP / Palm's 9.7-inch Topaz tablet to use 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8660, Adreno 220 GPU originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2ghzAdreno 220Adreno220beatsbeats audioBeatsAudiocharging stationChargingStationcloudcloud storageCloudStoragedockdocking stationDockingStationflashgfkgfk custom researchGfkCustomResearchGorilla GlassGorillaGlasshphp palmhp topazHpPalmHpTopazMSM8660opalpalmqualcommrumorslatespeculationsurveytablettap to sharetap-to-shareTapToSharetopaztouchstonewebosMon, 24 Jan 2011 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[HP / Palm tablet to feature Touchstone dock, cloud storage, Beats audio and Tap-to-Share smartphone integration]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/hp-palm-tablet-to-feature-touchstone-dock-cloud-storage-beat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/hp-palm-tablet-to-feature-touchstone-dock-cloud-storage-beat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/hp-palm-tablet-to-feature-touchstone-dock-cloud-storage-beat/#comments Now that the kitty's out of the gemstone bag, we're slowly starting to connect the dots that obscure the details of Palm's soon to be announced "Topaz" and "Opal" tablets. First up is information from one of our original trusted sources who claims that the Opal will measure 180 x 144 x 13mm (making it a bit shorter and wider than the 190.1 x 120.5 x 12-mm Galaxy Tab) and feature a 1,024 x 768 pixel TFT LCD display. We're told that the bigger Topaz tablet will ship about three months before Opal and measures in at 241 x 190 x 13mm (making it nearly identical to the 242.8 x 189.7 x 13.4-mm iPad) with a pixel resolution that could be the same as the Opal (our source wasn't 100 percent on this). We're also hearing that the "premium audio" we saw on that leaked marketing slide will indeed be powered by HP's Beats audio processing, and that the tablets will be provided with "tens of gigabytes" of cloud storage -- so much that it dwarfs the local storage on the devices. Good, because you're going to need it from the looks of some additional information we just received. Click through for the detail.

Continue reading HP / Palm tablet to feature Touchstone dock, cloud storage, Beats audio and Tap-to-Share smartphone integration

HP / Palm tablet to feature Touchstone dock, cloud storage, Beats audio and Tap-to-Share smartphone integration originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beatsbeats audioBeatsAudiocharging stationChargingStationcloudcloud storageCloudStoragedockdocking stationDockingStationexclusiveflashgfkgfk custom researchGfkCustomResearchhpopalpalmrumorspeculationsurveytablettap to sharetap-to-shareTapToSharetopaztouchstonewebosWed, 19 Jan 2011 11:28:00 EST