Silver Spring and ClipperCreek Join PG&E and EPRI in Innovative Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Pilot

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--Today, Silver Spring Networks, a leading provider of Smart Grid solutions, and partner ClipperCreek, Inc., a leading producer of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, announced their participation in an innovative plug-in electric vehicle (EV) pilot program, sponsored by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The pilot will enable PG&E and EPRI to test and validate the security, scalability and functionality of smart charging technology integrated with the Smart Grid. Findings will be open to a broad audience, helping to set best practices for EV charging and utility integration of EVs across North America.

“Integration of electric vehicles at scale is one of the great promises of the Smart Grid, and this pilot is an important step toward ensuring successful electric vehicle adoption for both utilities and consumers.”

Electric vehicles, with their significant potential for gasoline savings and emissions reductions, have captured the interest of consumers. With EV adoption, however, comes increased electricity demand. Even low levels of EV adoption can overburden local areas of the current electricity grid. Through this pilot, PG&E, EPRI, Silver Spring Networks and ClipperCreek, are proactively testing solutions to satisfy this high demand without increasing peak power loads or introducing grid reliability issues.

Set to begin in autumn of 2010, the San Francisco Bay Area-based pilot combines emerging plug-in electric vehicle technology with the scalable, secure, and reliable Smart Grid network already deployed at PG&E. As part of this pilot, Silver Spring-enabled ClipperCreek charging stations will be integrated with PG&E’s Smart Grid network platform. Charging stations will relay metered electricity usage data in the same way a meter on a house does. This architecture enables the utility to directly monitor and meter the charging station, separate from a house’s electricity load, and to understand the impact of various approaches to EV charging. At the same time, consumers gain greater visibility into the impact their charging options have on cost, grid reliability and the environment.

“We are proud to be a part of this pilot, helping to create the blueprint for successful electric vehicle integration,�?? said Scott Lang, Chairman, President, and CEO of Silver Spring Networks. “Integration of electric vehicles at scale is one of the great promises of the Smart Grid, and this pilot is an important step toward ensuring successful electric vehicle adoption for both utilities and consumers.�??

“To make electric vehicles a reality for consumers, the utility, EV charging technology, and the Smart Grid network must work together seamlessly,�?? said Dave Packard, President of ClipperCreek, Inc. “This program is vital to cementing that relationship and creating the best experience for consumers.�??

About Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks is a leading Smart Grid solutions provider that enables utilities to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions and empower their customers with new ways to monitor and manage their energy consumption. Silver Spring provides the hardware, software and services that allow utilities to deploy and run multiple advanced applications, including Smart Metering, Demand Response, Distribution Automation and Distributed Generation, over a single, unified network. Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform is based on open, Internet Protocol (IP) standards, allowing continuous, two-way communication between the utility and devices on the grid. Silver Spring has numerous deployments with leading utilities in the US and abroad, including Florida Power & Light, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Pepco Holdings, Inc., Jemena Electricity Networks Limited and United Energy Distribution, among others. For additional information, please visit www.silverspringnet.com.

About ClipperCreek

ClipperCreek brings customer solutions and product leadership to the electric vehicle charging infrastructure marketplace with reliable, safe and flexible, software-driven products that have been proven through 10 years of development and field experience. ClipperCreek is the first charge station manufacturer to be certified to meet the current UL standards with an SAE-J1772 compliant product. ClipperCreek has produced over 3,000 EVSEs since 2009 and is the exclusive provider for BMW’s Mini-E and for Tesla Motors’ high power level 2 charging stations. ClipperCreek also provides products for Mercedes, Ford, GM and Nissan vehicles. Visit www.ClipperCreek.com for more information.