Amsterdam plugs into electric car network
Amsterdam will become the first European city to install Coulomb Technologies’ networked charging stations for electric cars.
The city will start with 45 ChargePoint stations as part of a two-year public demonstration project. It then plans to deploy 200 stations by 2012 and expects to have enough stations installed by 2015 to fuel 10,000 electric cars.
Energy firm Nuon will provide renewable energy for the charging stations and Coulomb’s international partner, 365-Energy, will manage the ChargePoint Network for subscribers.
“Less than two months ago we announced the formation of our EMEA headquarters and now the city of Amsterdam will have the largest network of smart charging stations in Europe for fleet and consumer charging,” said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies. “Coulomb is providing an inclusive open architecture so that all electric vehicle owners in Amsterdam can easily make the switch from gasoline to electricity as a fuel.”
Drivers of electric vehicles will be able subscribe to the ChargePoint Network through a Website and will receive a ChargePoint Smart Card that allows them to charge their car at any charging station. To use a charging station, a driver holds the smart card near a card reader on the station’s front panel. Once authoriwed, the station door will unlock, allowing the driver to plug in the vehicle, and will energise the outlet once the door is safely locked securing the driver;s cord. The service will be free of charge for the pilot project.
