Plug-In 2010
Conference & Expo
By
Ivan Workman
July
26-29, 2010
San Jose, CA, Convention Center
Ecotality Blink Level 2 EVSE Press Conference
|
Plug-In 2010
By
Ivan Workman
July
26-29, 2010 San Jose, CA, Convention Center |
| Ecotality Blink Level 2 EVSE Press Conference |
|
The
conference had three focuses: Electric Drive Technologies for PHEV &
Electric Vehicles
Track, Infrastructure to Support Electric Drive Track, and
Programs and Policies for Electric Drive Market Development
Track.
The
Vehicle Technology Track had topics of; EV and PHEV Batteries - Status
and Prospects, Battery Systems integration and operation, Electric Drive
systems, Vehicle Testing, Plug in vehicle Modeling, On-Road Electric
Transportation, Battery Electric Vehicles.
The
Infrastructure and Smart Grid Track topics were; Infrastructure Impacts
of Plug-in Electric Vehicles, Standards and Requirements, Electricity as
a Low Carbon Fuel, PEVS as Distributed Resources – V2G, Smart Grid
Integration, Smart Charging Technologies, and Ideas for Public
Infrastructure.
The
Market Development track topics were; Seamless Technology Rollout,
Public Support for Plugging In, Learning From Experience- Infrastructure
for Plug-In Vehicles, Low Carbon Fuel Standard and other Policies,
Plug-In Grassroots and Legislative Advocacy, Scaling up From an Idea to
Production, Medium and Heavy Duty PHEV Electrification, and New Business
Models.
Most
organizations had some form of representation at Plug-In 2010 including
Saba Motors, Think North America, Boulder Electric Vehicles,
Ecotatility, Coulomb Technologies, Eaton Corporation, Parker, Remy,
Plug-In America, EPRI, etc. A number of them were EV Infrastructure
providers. Think North America and Boulder Electric Vehicles also had
representation at the conference despite not having a vehicle on
display.
Most
of the conference’s focus was on the roll out of new infrastructure and
new electric vehicles for the general public. The industry as a whole is
anywhere from 6 months to 18 months behind schedule.
There
were 10 vehicles on display at the convention in the Exhibit Hall:
The
big topic of conversation at the conference had to do with
infrastructure for electric cars. The plans are to use the new SAE J1772
connector standard. The connector Standard is currently slated for
adoption in both the USA and Japan. UL has approved the new plug back in
July and the hope is that the standard will be released this fall. As a
side note, I am not sure I can depend on UL testing. I have burned up
many 15 amp connectors on UL approved cables by charging my electric
vehicle at 15 amps for 12 hours continuously. There were a few companies
that had 30 amp prototype connectors in their booths to look at. The
companies that are supporting the standard are GM, Chrysler, Ford,
Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Tesla.
The
standard lists 16 amp, 30 amp, 40 amp, and 80 amp connectors. Word is
that all the connectors are ready to go into production. With new high
power packs at 100 Kilowatt hours or more, it is of the personal opinion
of the writher that the 30 amp connector will still not be sufficient.
If the infrastructure is built with the smaller connectors the system
may become as obsolete as AVCONs and Magnachargers. There was also talk
about the standard for Fast Charging which won’t become a standard for
at least two more years. They are considering using the Japanese CHAdeMo
Association standard for DC Fast Charging. The manufacturers using this
standard include: Aker Wade Technologies, AV Inc., Eaton Corporation,
and Ecotalitity.
List
of Exhibitors:
AeroVironment, Inc.,
ALTe,
Bay Area Air Quality Management District,
Best Buy,
Better Place,
Boulder Electric Vehicles,
BTCPower, Inc.,
Chevrolet,
China Aviation Lithium-ion Battery
Co., Ltd.,
Coulomb
Technologies, Inc.,
Compact
Power, Inc.,
Delta-Q Technologies,
Drive Oregon,
Eaton Corporation,
ECOtality,
EDI (Efficient
Drivetrains, Inc.),
EIG America,
Inc.,
Electric &
Hybrid Vehicle Technology International,
Electric Power Research Institute,
Evatran,
GridPoint, Inc.,
Ingeteam Energy, S.A.,
ITT-Interconnect Solutions,
Lear Corporation,
Leviton Manufacturing,
Liberty PlugIns Inc.,
Methode Electronics,
Nissan North America,
NRW Invest,
Odyne,
Parker Hannifin,
Philatron Wire and Cable,
Pi Mobility,
Plug In America,
Québec:
Powered by Green, Ready to Roll,
Remy, Inc.,
Schneider
Electric,
Spal USA,
THINK North America,
Toyota Motor Sales,
U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Vehicle
Testing Activity,
U.S. Department
of Energy Vehicle Technologies Program,
VCA North America
Organizers:
Electrifying Times Magazine Writers & Photographers:
Ivan
Workman
Norman E. Smith II |
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