GridPoint Partners with EVSE Manufacturers to Create a Network of Intelligent Charging Infrastructure
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LONG BEACH, Calif.--GridPoint, Inc., an established leader in smart grid software, announced today at the Plug-In 2009 Conference and Exposition that electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) manufacturers CabAire, eVco and Plug Smart™ Intelligent Energy Solutions have joined the GridPoint smart charging network. GridPoint’s EVSE integration partnerships, which already include Coulomb Technologies, have been established to create an intelligent charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles that meets the needs of utilities and drivers across the nation.
GridPoint’s electric vehicle management software can accommodate a number of integration approaches to allow charging hardware to join the GridPoint smart charging network. GridPoint provides EVSE manufacturers with easy, cost-effective solutions for smart grid-enabled charging stations to ensure both grid reliability and driver satisfaction.
GridPoint-enabled smart charging provides utilities with the ability to respond rapidly to critical grid events while prioritizing the need to provide fuel for electric vehicles and extending a utility’s ability to manage vehicle charging load.
“Electric vehicles are coming soon, and to support them we need a successful electric vehicle ecosystem. Robust smart charging will be a key component of that ecosystem, and we’re happy to be working with utilities and EVSE manufacturers to build it before the vehicles hit the roadways beginning next year,” said John Clark, Electric Vehicle Management, GridPoint.
Through EVSE partnerships, GridPoint provides utilities with a single, proven solution to adaptively manage the flow of energy to a wide range of electric transportation endpoints – vehicles and charging stations. Learning and experience gained over two years of building and deploying smart charging capabilities in utility-led demonstrations contributes to the successful deployment of a network of intelligent charging infrastructure.
Last year at Plug-In 2008 GridPoint announced a partnership with Coulomb Technologies, and during this year’s show GridPoint will be demonstrating its integration with Coulomb’s Charge Point product in booth 215.
In addition to electric vehicle management, the GridPoint Platform allows utilities to progressively integrate and customize smart grid solutions including energy efficiency, load management, renewable integration and storage management. GridPoint is working with utilities nationwide including Xcel Energy, Duke Energy, Austin Energy, Progress Energy and Seattle City Light and was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer in 2008.
About CabAire
CabAire LLC, formed in 2006, provides Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment for automobiles and trucks. CabAire is a subsidiary of Control Module Industries (CMI), which was founded in 1969 and for 40 years has designed, manufactured, installed, and maintained innovative electric and electromechanical equipment for most Fortune 500 companies. On the Net: www.cabaire.com
About Coulomb
Coulomb Technologies headquartered in Campbell, Calif., offers a family of products and services that provide a plug-in vehicle charging infrastructure, which includes ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations ranging in capability from 120V 15A to 240V 80A AC charging to future 120kW DC charging. Coulomb applies networking technology to the challenge of charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in order to fuel the electric transportation industry. Coulomb's ChargePoint Network www.mychargepoint.net addresses the needs of drivers, utilities, governments, and parking space owners. Follow Coulomb on Twitter at twitter.com/coulombevi. On the Net: www.coulombtech.com
About eVco
eVco is developing a subscriber-based network of grid-tied, 240-volt fast charging stations called PowerPodsTM for commercial, fleet, industrial and government installations. eVco PowerPods create a public charging infrastructure meeting the needs of drivers, automakers, utilities, businesses and more. For convenience of at home charging, eVco is developing a 240-volt, 40-amp fast charging model that can be wall- or pole-mounted in a garage, car port or driveway. EVCO has recently been acquired by Green Vehicles, a designer and manufacturer of affordable, advanced propulsion and charging systems. On the Net: http://www.greenvehicles.com
About Plug Smart
Plug Smart™ provides intelligent energy solutions for plug-in electric/electric vehicles and home energy management that facilitate off-peak energy consumption which results in grid relief and cheaper energy bills for consumers. Plug Smart™ Solutions, a sister business unit of Plug Smart™, provides consulting and program management services for utility scale energy efficiency and advanced renewable energy projects that include wind, solar, biomass, energy storage and microgrids. On the Net: www.plugsmart.net
About GridPoint
GridPoint, Inc., an established leader in smart grid software, enables utilities to easily manage the transformation to a Smart Grid. GridPoint’s software aggregates and manages an intelligent network of distributed energy resources that controls load, stores energy and produces power. Utilities efficiently balance supply and demand, improve grid reliability and empower consumers with user-friendly software to manage energy consumption. Utilities and consumers realize the benefits of energy intelligence with GridPoint’s solutions including energy management, load management, renewable integration, storage management and electric vehicle management. With GridPoint’s interoperable platform, utilities rapidly integrate and manage emerging technologies, resulting in a practical path to developing a clean, efficient 21st century grid. On the Net: www.gridpoint.com