A solar power company has joined a regional bank to create an “electric highway” of quick-charge stations linking San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is believed to be the first network of its kind in the country, and electric vehicle advocates said it could spur the adoption of cars with cords in California.
SolarCity and Rabobank claim the 240-volt, 70-ampere stations unveiled today at five locations along Highway 101 provide the fastest recharge time available in a public setting, allowing EV drivers to charge up in one to three hours. The stations are located in retail areas, and Rabobank is letting people plug in and charge up at no cost.
Each station uses the Tesla Motors high-power charger, so for the time being only those few people who own a Tesla Roadster can plug in. But SolarCity promises to retrofit the stations with universal plugs — known in the EV biz as SAE J1772 — once the standard has been adopted. That is expected in about six months, SolarCity spokesman Jonathan Bass told Wired.com, and will ensure EVs of all kinds can plug in.
The 240-volt, 70-ampere charging stations can charge the Roadster’s 53 kilowatt-hour battery pack in 3.5 hours. Cars with smaller packs, like the Mini-E and forthcoming Nissan Leaf, will charge up in less than two, and the owner of a Chevrolet Volt will be able to fill the car’s 16 kilowatt-hour battery in a little more than an hour. The idea is drivers will plug in, grab a bite to eat and come back when the battery is charged.
Each station costs $7,000 to $12,000 to install. Tesla provided the charging stations with help from a California Air Resources Board grant. Most of the charging stations draw power from the grid, but the station in Santa Maria gets its juice from a 30-kilowatt solar array. Bass said SolarCity and Rabobank are working on a deal to bring solar power to each of the four sites on Rabobank property.
– from wired.com