SF Bay Area Will be Electric Vehicle Capital of US: Better Place, Coulomb Technologies Expanding EV Infrastructure
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY 
on 11.21.08
photo: Better Place
Electric cars may not be commercially available yet in the US, and aren’t expected to be widely available much before 2012, but when they are the San Francisco Bay Area will be ready.
Palo Alto-based Better Place has announced that it plans to begin setting up a network of electric car power stations in the Bay Area, to be ready by 2012. Coulomb Technologies has also announced that it will be building a network of 40 charging stations along California highways, beginning in 2009. But that’s not all:
Along with this, the mayors of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland announced a nine-step policy plan which will, in the words of SF Mayor Gavin Newsom, “make the Bay Area—and eventually California—the electric vehicle capital of the US”.
Better Place: Swap Out Your Batteries or Charge While You Wait
At the Better Place stations, electric car owners will be able to either swap out their run-down batteries for freshly charged ones (the process will be fully automated) or at other Charge Spot locations be able to top off their car’s batteries while they shop.
The expected price tag of setting up this network: $1 billion.
Map of Better Place’s California plans, image: Better Place
More: Better Place
Coulomb Takes a Different Approach
Rather than build their own stations, Coulomb Technology says it will be working with new and existing gas stations to install their electric vehicle charging units. Initially the Campbell, Calif.-based company says it will be installing 40 at locations its CEO says it can’t divulge owing to agreements with its customers. (Greentech Media)
Electric vehicle owners would be able to use these charging units under a subscription service.
The company is also setting up a demonstration project of five of the units in downtown San Jose next month.
More: Coulomb Technologies
Policy Changes to Promote Electric Vehicle Purchases, Infrastructure
The Mayors have proposed the following policy changes to help this all along:
Expedited permitting and installation of electric vehicle charging outlets at homes, business, parking lots, and other buildings throughout the Bay Area;Incentives for employers to install EV charging systems in their workplace and provide similar incentives to parking facilities and other locations where EV charging stations can be installed;
Harmonize local regulations and standards across the region that govern EV infrastructure to achieve regulatory consistency for EV companies as well as expanded range for EV consumers;
Establish common government programs that promote the purchase of EVs;
Link EV programs and infrastructure to regional transit and air quality programs;
Establish programs for aggressive pooled-purchase orders for EVs in municipal, state government and private sector fleets and future commitment of purchasing preference for EV vehicles;
Expedited permitting and approval for facilities that provide extended-range driving capability for EVs in the region through battery exchange locations or fast-charging;
Identify and secure suitable standard (110V) electric outlets for charging low voltage EVs in every government building in 2009; and
Identify roll-out plan for placement of 220V EV charging equipment throughout each city including city parking lots and curbside parking. (SF Mayor's Office)
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I was very excited to see the news about Better Place in California...
I think it might turn out to be a (logical) tipping point for wider adoption.
While I'm hesitant to buy into the idea that 'pluggin in' and batteries will drive the auto industry forward (beyond first generation vehicles) -- I think it's important to not pick winners about energy storage systems. Rather than extend plug in units all over the streets of our cities-- I think Better Place's 'swap out' business model might be the most effective way of changing the nature of refueling electric vehicles.
but regardless-- great news for the auto industry (and a potentially profitable one for utility providers)
Garry G
Editor
TheEnergyRoadmap.com
This is great new to have more charging stations. Now we need to see "green" charging stations. Where each station powers itself with solar or wind power. A solar panel the size of car could definitely be set up next to a power station. Additionally a wireless credit card terminal could be installed for the customer to make a micro charge.!!
I think this idea is absurd. The great thing about an electric car is that you can recharge it at home. It costs a few dollars to drive your car about 100 miles. You have the convenience of never visiting any special station while you are away from home. That means cheap motoring.
If you want to go further take a plane or a train, did Californians just vote to build a high speed railway network? Do you plan on using it? If you are, you will not need to drive. If you build this too, then you can have two services at twice the cost.
I presume many people pay for parking or have their business provide parking spaces, install a high current, but regular 110V outlet in a waterproof enclosure, you could also use it to recharge your segway or plug in hybrid. Then don't pay a consortium with millions of dollars of overhead for the privilege of proprietary subscription outlets.
I just think that the idea of inventing a new type of power outlet and and overhead of an additional new system of paying for electricity is missing the point. It looks like a way of paying double for a new class of electricity. This seems to parallel the idea of building a new network of hydrogen distribution, another new way to distributing a thing that has the utility of electricity at several times the existing price of electricity. It seems silly to invent electricity yet again.
It is now being thought that the SF bay area will be a model for the rest of the country to emulate. Electric charging points are certainly the order of the day seeing the number of EVs on the road and the way that their number is increasing. In fact at this time demand for EVs is higher than production capacity and supply, so it follows in that the demand for charging stations will also increase.
This is like printing business cards before you even have a business license.
A year ago, however, GM took a major step towards reclaiming that edge. At the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), held in Detroit, Bob Lutz, head of product development, unveiled the muscular Chevy Volt, a concept vehicle that he vowed would become the world's first mass-produced electric car.