Nissan’s electric car LEAF has been named Car of the Year at the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show, which runs until Sunday, December 11th.

The model has been successful thanks to its efficient lithium-ion batteries and high performance motor. It also features an on-board IT system that can be accesses by remote control via mobile phones.

Nissan has sold more than 20,000 units of the LEAF, which makes it the most popular electric car model. Nissan LEAF was also won the 2012 RJC Car of the Year award, presented by the Automotive Researchers’ & Journalists’ Conference of Japan. It also won the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame’s 2011-2012 Car of the Year and the 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car awards.

“All these accolades show that zero-emission vehicles can clearly be competitive alternatives to conventional ones,” said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.

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Electric cars may present different hazards than conventional design. Recent crash tests as well as one report of a battery fire suggest that the present car design may have to be improved. Crash tests have been carried out in the well known Euro NCAP testing center on the Volt and the Renault Fluence EV that gives tested cars crash resistance ratings scores ranging from 1 to 5 points. Overall crash test results of both of cars resulted in the Fluence EZ having an over crash test rating of 4 points, as compared to the Volt receiving a higher score of 5 points, highest in the auto safety rating program. One Chevy Volt battery pack that was being closely monitored following a government crash test caught fire. Another recently crash-tested battery emitted smoke and sparks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a statement on its investigation into a Chevrolet Volt fire that occurred at the organization’s facilities. NHTSA had done a side-impact test on a Volt then parked it outside, and three weeks later Chevy’s plug-in hybrid caught fire. The battery was determined to be the cause, after its coolant line was ruptured during the side-impact test. That led the NHTSA to consider a ruling forcing hybrid and electric-car batteries to be drained after a wreck.

So far, no fires have been reported in Volts involved in roadway crashes, NHTSA said. More than 5,000 of the vehicles have been sold.

Both the crash tests on the Volt and the Fluence appear to show a vulnerability to their lithium battery packs, especially when hit in the side.

Whether or not the GM Volt and Renault Fluence manufacturers can strengthen their cars more in respect to damage from crashes remains to be seen. This appears to be especially critical in regards to the danger of the cars’ battery packs catching fire or even exploding in a serious car crash.

Recent NHTSA tests of three battery packs were designed to replicate the earlier tests. In that test, the Volt was subjected to a simulated side-impact collision into a narrow object like a tree or pole followed by a rollover.

The first battery tested. But a battery test on Nov. 17 initially experienced a temporary temperature increase, and on Thursday caught fire. Another battery tested on Nov. 18 began to smoke and emit sparks shortly after the rotation.

Article by Andy Soos, appearing courtesy Environmental News Network.

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In the past ten years, environmentally friendly cars have become a fixture in advertising. First came the Prius. Then BMW claimed its electric batteries boost performance, great for boosting the entire BMW brand. Chevy Volt, an electric hybrid, hypes range, innovation and American values, trying to minimize its differences from traditional cars. Nissan Leaf touts its green credentials, scooping up the ultra-green market.

Leaf’s green strategy is working against the Volt: Leafs are outselling Volts by over four to one. Yet even at that, Nissan only sold 1,362 Leafs in August. By contrast, Toyota sold over 30,000 Camry in the same period. The ultra-green sliver market may soon be sated. What’s next?

So far, electric car marketers have failed to position themselves against the 5 million+ internal combustion engine (ICE) market in any way but green, leaving that task to the press and consumers. And what is the buzz? So far, the biggest story about the electric car is “range anxiety.”

Too many reviews and user stories concentrate on the issue. Is 100 miles enough? When will the recharging stations be up and running? What happens in a bad traffic jam? How long would you have to wait for the special Level 2 Charger permit? Who would ever buy one until all of these issues have been worked out!

That’s why, when I walked into the garage of my uber-practical friend Jane (not her real name) and saw a brand new Nissan Leaf, I was completely shocked. Her former car was a 4-year-old Lexus. The Leaf seemed to be a step down, both in size and luxury. She supports conservation, but not when it interferes with her lifestyle. She spends many weekends at a place 60 miles away, so her 100-mile range wouldn’t cover the round trip. This just didn’t make sense.

When I gave her a doubting look, Jane said “Just drive it.”

Understand, we are not car people. We drive whatever gets us there. Jane’s Lexus was low maintenance and had a great GPS. I bought a used 1998 Volvo Coupe for the low price and great sound system.

But when I drove the Leaf, I felt transformed. Suddenly, I was 10 years old riding my bicycle down a hill without a helmet. Jane turned off the pedestrian-warning beeper and the only noise was the wind and the whine of tires on pavement. I later discovered its design features – light body materials, soft suspension and steering, double insulation, low adhesion tires and the instant acceleration of an electric motor – sort of ET-like, suddenly you’re going a whole lot faster – all contribute to the feeling of floating on a cloud.

Why aren’t the headlines about what a cool experience it is to drive an electric car? It is such a clear differentiation. Sports cars and Harley Davidsons are all about the experience. Sure, the electric car is not for those who would miss the growl of an ICE. But fans wax on about the experience, comparing it to a ride in a corporate jet or praising its quiet peacefulness. One ardent Leaf fan called it “Insanely wonderful” and told me, “It’s the first thing I’m buying when my company goes public.” Michael Carmichael writes in the Huffington Post that its acceleration is “…just like the Starship Enterprise.”

My favorite comment of all, from the Nissan Leaf Forum: “For now I’m just cherishing the boyish wonder that my Leaf is bringing me. All the cars I owned were a mode of transportation, while the Leaf felt like a toy that I’ve always wanted.”

Now wouldn’t that make a great commercial?

Article by Carol Pierson Holding, a writer and an environmentalist; her articles on CSR can be found on her website. Article appearing courtesy 3BL Media.

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I recently set out to look into all electric car sharing programs, like the one recently started in San Diego by car2go. After a little research into the program – run by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler, stocked with Daimler Smart Fortwo EVs, and using ECOtality charging infrastructure – I became even more interested in the diversifying products of auto manufacturers. A number of auto OEMs around the world are starting to look like one-stop-shop transportation companies, investing in car sharing programs, transportation applications, and public transit. What are the catalysts for such diversification and what do these new mobility services achieve for auto OEMs?

If we follow the almighty dollar and look at the group with growing buying power around the world, it’s Generation Y. This tech-savvy and highly connected group is in the midst of starting their careers, something they are redefining with their own creativity. We (I say “we” because I too am a member of the Generation Y clan) sit on the cusp of change in countless sectors: the power industry, personal computing, and transportation, and others. We approach business and community in a different way than our predecessors – our childhoods spent online, texting, and chatting nurtured that. There is an expectation of choice and independence like never before. The transportation needs and desires of our demographic are a reflection of all these characteristics.

I have good reason to believe auto manufacturers are paying attention. Gen Y’ers are an underlying force in the urbanization trend around the world, bringing with us a desire for personalization in the products and services we use, and the ability to share our experiences conveniently and constantly. While it seems daunting to design products and services that fit all of these criteria, it appears that auto OEMs are expanding their product lines and engaging with service offerings to do just that. From Toyota’s youth division to Ford’s partnership with Pandora, and BMW’s investment in transportation-related smart phone applications, auto manufacturers are attempting to dodge the bullet of obsolescence by embracing transportation in all its forms, and make them appealing to up-and-coming Gen Y consumers. This concept of transportation services – car sharing, parking assistance, and even city guides – looks like the commoditization of transportation, which will change the way we think about mobility, and particularly sustainable mobility. Or perhaps they are just playing catch-up with Gen Y’ers take on it.

So how do auto manufacturers make money if they don’t sell cars? Well, they’re not going to stop selling vehicles; they are going to offer a suite of transportation services to accommodate the wide variety of mobility needs that people actually have. BMW has committed significant resources, to the tune of about $100 million, to mobility services. This includes everything from electric vehicle car sharing to applications for mobile devices that support congestion mitigation and some that aim to diminish parking woes. Daimler’s car2go, which recently launched the first all electric car sharing program in the United States, is aiming to eventually make all of its car sharing programs interoperable, granting subscribers mobility across the country without any of the constraints of owning a vehicle.

These kinds of programs target inhabitants in what are quickly becoming the world’s mega-cities, where car ownership can be neither practical nor desirable. But where there are fewer personal vehicle sales, car companies are identifying other opportunities for revenue. Car sharing programs charge an annual membership and then for use by the minute or hour for service. In addition to this revenue stream, auto OEMs also gain a guaranteed customer for their vehicles (Daimler requires car2go to purchase the EVs in its fleet) and an audience for their other products, hybrids, electric vehicles, and ICE vehicles with more advanced features. Consumers gain risk-free opportunities to test new technologies. Perhaps by the time Gen Y’ers have kids or decide they need a vehicle, they will be more comfortable buying an all-electric vehicle thanks to their EV car sharing experiences.

If Gen Y’ers (or anyone for that matter) still decides to purchase a vehicle, they may make decisions based on which in-car services are available. Ford is integrating Pandora with ten of the company’s vehicles and two Lincoln products, so drivers can access their custom online radio stations and stream them in the vehicle. The same service is available in 2011 BMW models. At the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, Ford announced the introduction of a Twitter application in its vehicles which the vehicle reads Tweets aloud to the driver. It appears that Ford is treating their vehicles as yet another platform for the internet and connectivity. While services such as these have yet to prove their full value, they are squarely aimed at the tendencies and preferences of Gen Y’ers.

Auto manufacturers around the world are also embracing other forms of more sustainable transportation. The market for electric, two-wheel vehicles is growing much more quickly in parts of Asia and Europe, and a bicycle sharing program with those could be a lucrative next step. The University of Tennessee has tested such a service. You will also find BMW involved with designing public transit systems through the design consultancy DesignworksUSA. (They have been tapped to design the future BART subway system in San Francisco). As transportation preferences change for Gen Y’ers and others across the globe, it appears that auto OEMs are positioning themselves to be go-to providers for all kinds of mobility needs, including sustainable mobility that might not involve traditional ICE vehicles. With public and private transportation accounting for roughly 20 percent of an average city’s greenhouse gas emissions, innovative approaches to transportation may also lead to partnerships with major cities around the world. Smart Cities projects around the world are demonstrating many variations of intelligent and sustainable transportation systems. This may be just the tip of the iceberg as far as the future of transportation goes – keep an eye out for Pike Research’s upcoming report on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Article by Brittany Gibson, appearing courtesy the Matter Network.

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Mitsubishi joins the hunt for affordable, rapid charging stations with its own solar-powered prototype.

Ask any car owner about their biggest worry when it comes to electric vehicles, and they’re likely to say finding themselves in the middle of nowhere without an outlet.

The interstate system spawned a nationwide network of gas stations conveniently located along almost any route that cars routinely travel. This brings and element of comfort when you’re on mile 300 of a 3,000 mile trip.

But when you’re driving a fully electric car with a limited range, the idea of venturing too far from your home charging station can be very unnerving.

That’s why Mitsubishi and other companies in the EV game are working hard to perfect quick charge technology that will provide peace of mind and convenient range extension for those who want to leave town without the aid of fossil fuels.

Mitsubishi recently debuted a solar-powered charging station for electric vehicles at the MMNA headquarters in Cypress, California. The station, which features 96, 175W photovoltaic modules made by Mitsubishi Electric, is the first of its kind in Cypress, and will help kick off the preparations as certified Mitsubishi dealers become EV-ready in anticipation of the scheduled launch date of Mitsubishi i across the U.S.

Able to charge up to four vehicles at once, the station features three types of chargers with different voltages: standard level 1 voltage (110v) will deliver a 100 percent charge in 22 hours on the new Mitsubishi i; level 2 (220v) which can charge the vehicle in six hours; and level 3 CHAdeMO Quick Charger, which can charge to 80 percent battery capacity in 25 minutes.

Mitsubishi Electric’s solar panels are made with 100 percent lead-free solder, and have one of the higher sunlight-to-energy conversion ratios in the industry, adding to the project’s efficiency and sustainability.

Mitsubishi Motors North America President Yoichi Yokozawa said “We hope that our dealers, learning institutions, and municipalities will look to this technology with a keen eye towards the future, and bear in mind that the gradual acceptance of the pure-EV transportation will be aided by increasing the number of facilities like this one.”

We hope so too.

Article by Beth Buczynski, appearing courtesy Crisp Green.

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The city of London, which has set a goal of becoming the “electric car capital” of Europe, has launched a new network of 150 charging stations, increasing the total number of stations citywide to more than 400.

Calling a lack of charging points the biggest hurdle to the wider adoption of electric vehicle technology, Mayor Boris Johnson said city residents will see new stations popping up throughout the city within the so-called Source London network.

Under the program, electric car owners will pay a £100 annual membership that will enable them to plug their vehicles into charging stations on roadways, car parks, and supermarkets.

A map on the Source London website illustrates the locations of each charging station. “By giving increasing numbers of drivers the confidence in electric vehicle technology, we will make a considerable contribution to improving our air quality and cutting carbon emissions,” Johnson said.

By 2013, city officials hope there will be more than 1,300 charging points across London, assuring that every resident is within a mile of a station.

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Driving is an inevitable part of day-to-day life for many commuters. The impact of vehicle related CO2 emissions can no longer be ignored. There are more than 250 million cars regularly operated in the United States. In total, these cars make 365 billion trips with a combined mileage of 2.3 trillion miles per year. No matter which way you look at it, this is hard on the planet. It is time to go green, regardless of your income. Fortunately, there are many impacting ways to be a green driver without having to buy a hybrid or electric car. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and some commitment to the greater cause.

Giving up driving all together would be ideal, but is too unrealistic for most Americans. Instead, you can start with a few simple steps to living a greener, commuter lifestyle.

Step One: Get a handle on your skills and seek to practice smooth and steady driving. Smoother driving with less time spent on the gas or the brakes can equate to substantially less carbon emissions. How is this so? One second of flooring it can make the same CO2 emissions as a full thirty minutes of travel. It takes a lot of energy to get that engine to go, so work on smoother transitions.

Don’t idle your car. Nine minutes of idling is double the pollutants of turning the car off and then on again when it is time to go. Despite the myths, you will not waste gas by restarting your engine. Try to avoid rush hour traffic. If you do wind up in traffic, be sure to turn off your engines if you are at a standstill for more than 30 seconds.

Service your car regularly. This means regular oil and air filter changes, and keeping those tires inflated. Poorly maintained engines can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 20 percent. Slightly deflated tires can also reduce miles per gallon. Simple updates will keep you on the green commuter track.

Step Two: Try to work from home whenever possible. You can start by telling your boss that it boosts morale, profits, and the eco-friendliness of the company. In addition, this could potentially save 2 billion gallons of gasoline per year. Telecommuting one day a week could cut CO2 emissions by 400 lbs. per year. Who would want to say no to that?

Get flexed with work. This means that if you can’t telecommute, maybe you can ask to have a schedule that is outside of the peak hours. This way you can avoid rush hour traffic and all the carbon-filled standstills that so often go along with it.

Use mass transit or use your body. Maybe you can use alternate transportation a few days a week. This could mean biking, busing, riding a scooter, or even walking if it’s not too far. This will not only save on CO2 emissions, but could also save you some gas money.

Step Three: Take the big step when the time comes. This means that when your old car dies, upgrade to an eco-friendly vehicle. While this may cost more upfront, it will undoubtedly save you in gas costs over time. With gas prices sky rocketing to nearly five dollars a gallon, this is a sound investment indeed. You could always look into purchasing a used hybrid or electric car to save a little more. In the end, you are helping yourself by helping the planet.

Article by Jenni Sunde, a freelance fashion writer and pop culture junkie. Jenni specializes in all things lifestyle-related. From home and design to health and beauty. With her love of art and all things beautiful, she delights in sharing her sense of style from her life to your computer monitor. Her title pegs her as an editor at a website that specializes in providing people with car insurance quotes, but her passion leads her into writing with a little more substance and a lot more heart. Article appearing courtesy EnergyRefuge.

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Two major U.S. retail companies began installing electric car charging stations outside stores in two states this month, adding privately financed infrastructure that analysts say will be critical for the growth of the electric vehicle market in the U.S.

In Texas, Walgreens, working with NRG Energy, began installing the first of 18 rapid charging stations outside stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. According to company officials, the stations will offer a high-speed charger that can add 30 miles of range after just 10 minutes of charging time, and so-called Level 2 chargers that can add 25 miles of range per hour of charging time. NRG, which is installing the systems, will offer charging packages from $49 to $89 per month.

Earlier this month, Simon Property Group, Inc., the largest owner and manager of retail property space in the U.S., added its first self-serve electric charging station outside a shopping mall in Orlando, Fla., and is currently adding another at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, Calif.

President Obama said earlier this year that he wants to see 1 million electric cars on U.S. roadways by 2015, and experts say the growth of the market depends on a network of charging stations nationwide.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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In the race to save the environment, one of the most important things is reducing greenhouse gas emissions to lessen the global carbon footprint. One of the biggest ways to achieve this is to look for alternative options when it comes to transportation. Cars are required to get from one place to another, so the question is how to make them more environmentally friendly? Over the last few years, numerous research and development teams have worked side-by-side with car companies to develop electric vehicles to reduce carbon footprints. Now numerous countries around the world are setting up electric car initiatives to make them more accessible and widely available for use by the general public.

1) Germany’s Electric Car Initiative. The German government, in 2010, made a major push to increase electric mobility. The German Chancellor met with a number of officials within the government, science industry, and the energy and automobile energy to learn how to streamline current electric mobility efforts in the country. Because Germany was the first to build cars in the twentieth century, they feel the importance to be the leading nation in the electric car initiative. The government is funding $700 million into electric mobility test initiatives, including plans for the development of a charging station infrastructure. Daimler, one of the top automotive companies in Germany is not only creating hybrid cars, but also hydrogen fuel cells.

2)The Electric Vehicles Initiative. The Electric Vehicles Initiative, created in Summer 2010, is a government-led forum for international cooperation on developing and deploying electric and other advanced vehicles. Countries participating agree to collect and share data, coordinate RD&D efforts, and create pilot city programs to promote electric vehicle demonstrations and disseminate information regarding vehicle technology development and electric vehicle deployment targets.

Thirteen countries accounting for more than 80% of the world’s vehicle production are now members of this initiative, which also includes the International Energy Agency. In Shanghai in late April, national partners joined with 16 cities to launch the Pilot Cities Initiative under EVI.

3) United States – China Electric Vehicles Initiative. In 2009, the Chinese and American governments agreed at the Electric Vehicles Forum to increase and work upon the shared interest in amplifying the use of electric vehicles to eventually eliminate oil dependence as well as an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while, at the same time, promoting feasible economic growth. The joint Electric Vehicle Initiative includes within a joint development standard, a number of demonstration projects in a variety of cities in both the United States and China, technical road mapping, and projects to disseminate information to the general public.

4) Taiwan Electric Car Initiative. 2009 saw the Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs make an announcement about the beginning of an electric car industry research consortium. While the country currently provides subsidies for those purchasing electric motorcycles, the government is set to create new policies to promote the purchase of electric cars in the near future. Because of Taiwan’s large electronics and information technology sectors, when mixed with the automobile industry, Taiwan could prove to be a leader in the electric car market.

5) United Kingdom Electric Car Initiative. Not to be outdone, the United Kingdom has come up with its own Electric Car Initiative. The United Kingdom-based initiative seeks to make electric cars not only more attractive but more affordable to drivers by providing incentives up to £5000 toward the purchase of plug-in or electric hybrid vehicles. The government also included another £20 million to go towards the creation of a network of charging stations and the establishment of “electric car cities” around the country. The cities selected will service as a focal point for low-carbon and electric car demonstration projects. Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon said “The scale of incentives we’re announcing today will mean that an electric car is a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the UK a world leader in low carbon transport.”

6) Israeli Electric Car initiative. In Israel, California-based Better Place, has made one of their homes, supplying lithium-ion batteries for Renault-Nissan cars. Better Place will also be providing the necessary infrastructure for electric cars, including 500,000 charging stations and 200 batter-exchange centers. For its part, the Israeli government has decreases taxes on the purchase of electric cars in an effort to encourage citizens to make the switch. Because of Israel’s small size, with major urban centers a maximum of 150 kilometers apart, Israel is the perfect location for electric vehicles than countries with longer commutes.

7) Belfast Electric Vehicles Initiative. Belfast, Ireland, has come up with their own Electric Vehicles Initiative. The objectives of this plan are to look at a number of pilot studies of other electric car initiatives and see how they were carried out and the funding required. Then the initiative would organize the data to see what works and what doesn’t work and how to overcome obstructions for the use of electric vehicles in Belfast.

8 ) Australia Clean Driving Initiative. Clean Driving is a Canberra Region-based initiative to assist those looking for a transportation solution that has zero emissions, those wanting an electric vehicle, and of course, those looking to assist in creating a sustainable future. Clean Driving promotes the benefits of using electric vehicles, both in the wallet and for the environment. The objective is to promote education on sustainable options for transportation.

9) London Becomes International Electric Car Capital. London is quickly earning the title of International Electric Car Capital. Because of their large carbon footprint, London is introducing 100,000 electric cars, along with 25,000 charging stations in an effort to decrease their problems with carbon emissions. Though similar initiatives are occurring all over the world, this has so far been the largest. To further increase the city’s standing, a number of incentives have been provided for those who make the switch to electric vehicles. If this is implemented properly, it will address growing concerns over London’s low air quality, considered to be the worst throughout the European continent.

10) Canada Electric Car Initiative. Canada will admit that they have been slow onto the electric car initiative scene. The Canadian government has not only been slow, but slightly reluctant to promote the utilization of electric cars. The province of British Columbia was the first to start introducing the use of electric car use, especially within the city of Vancouver. The Vancouver Electric Car Association has been instrumental in increasing the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon footprints. Now the rest of the country is following and the Council is beginning to make new laws, including amending bylaws to allow for low speed electric cars on city streets without getting in trouble.

Article by Shawn Lesser & Ben Taube.
Shawn Lesser is Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. . He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

Ben Taube currently serves as the Executive Director of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) which is a nonprofit headquartered in Atlanta, GA with a mission to deploy energy efficiency across 11 southeast States. The organization is comprised of public and private interests. Ben also serves as the Chair of the Global Cleantech Cluster Association. Mr. Taube has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Memphis and a Masters in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver.

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Global sales of electric car charging stations was just $69 million in 2010, but analysts predict the EV charging industry to swell to $1.1 billion by 2013 — and even though they won’t have any plug-in vehicles ready until 2012, the world’s largest automaker wants a piece of it.

Toyota and a growing number of electrical heavyweights including Siemens and GE are jumping into an industry of many small and medium-sized companies. And because of the sheer size, brand recognition and distribution networks that these new players bring to the table, the cottage industry surrounding electric car chargers is about to get a serious shock to its system.

“It will be a challenge for the smaller players to compete with the likes of GE and Siemens, which have extensive experience in reducing manufacturing costs as well as understanding of relationships in the building power market,” says John Gartner of cleantech research firm Pike Research in The Wall St. Journal.

Toyota’s electric car-charger, which will reportedly cost about two thousand dollars installed, won’t be available until 2012, when the plug-in hybrid Prius and a small all-electric car hit Japanese and U.S. markets. But with companies like GE planning to deliver its first charger, the WattStation (pictured above) this summer, and Siemens readying to launch their residential electric car charging solution, the Siemens Charge, later this year, a cramped market ecosystem consisting of start-ups and relative unknowns is about to get even more cramped, which is all good news for consumers as competition should drive charger prices down.

In the short term, the hope is that all these new chargers, networks and platforms — from companies like Ecotality, Coulomb, Better Place, NRG Energy, GridBot, Clipper Creek and Silver Spring Networks, along with those produced by larger companies like AeroVironment, makers of those nifty rooftop wind turbines and most of the U.S. military’s unmanned drone aircraft, Eaton, Leviton, and Schneider Electric, which just launched its own residential charger last week — will bring the price of residential chargers down into the $700 range. But in the longer term, not only will all that competition in an uncertain market drive charger price down, analysts also predict there will be an active merger and acquisition environment.

“Some of those companies that are early movers are going to find it difficult to survive. We think there will be some interesting merger and acquisition activity at the end of this year,” says Pike Research’s Gartner.

And with some big-time names now positioning themselves in the charging sector, it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out and which big names in electronics, energy management, electric utilities and vehicle manufacturing get into the charging business.

Article by Timothy B. Hurst, appearing courtesy Earth & Industry.

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