New Electric Car Charging Modules

Will WattStations Make Owning Electric Cars More Attractive?

WattStations are the new electric car charging "modules" designed by GE and Yves Behar. These chargers will start appearing in cities (and hopefully homes) in 2011, and promise to charge a car batter in 4-8 hours, which is not only a huge improvement over "level 1" charging technology (12+ hours) but will be perfect for commuters who can charge their cars during the work day.

These stations are simple plastic and aluminum posts that house a long cord that plugs directly into your vehicle (Nissan is already on board to create cars with compatible plug-ins). The station will also have a LED screen that glows blue when the station is in use, green when a station is available, and red when the station is out of service (recharging, broken, etc). Eventually, GE hopes that these stations will also be able to double as parking meters, and possibly even be tailored to each city, for a "local loyalty" type theme.

GE obviously has high hopes for this technology, and if their claim is true that for every 10,000 users, 33,000 metric tons of CO2 will not escape into the atmosphere, many people concerned for the environment have high hopes, too. But are the WattStations really the answer to the electric car problem? 

Obviously, only time will tell how popular the WattStations become. There was also a lot of high hopes for the GM EV1 electric car, which was something of a spectacular failure. But if GE's claims are true, the WattStation might be the technology change the electric car needs. 

WattStations promise quick charging, which is a huge concern for electric car users. If you can't charge a car as easily as pumping gas, users will stick to gasoline "technology" - there will be no incentive for them to switch. While 4-8 hour charging might not be feasible for people who drive a lot for work and need a gas-pump-quick charge, technology promises that these advances may not be far around the corner. Remember, there was a time when detractors claimed you'd never be able to charge a car batter in four hours.

Placement is also a huge plus for the WattStation. They should be implemented in cities across the nation in 2011, which is exactly where new technology tends to get the best start. GE also promises that home charging stations will be available for sale, and that they should be implemented just like a vacuum cleaner - an item that is easily stored away and was slowly adopted until it was in homes everywhere. 

Technology has a long history of being the answer to social and health problems, the way the "horseless carriage" improved sanitary conditions in cities, and many people are looking to the GE WattStation to be that push carbon-free cars need. Even if the WattStation dies a quiet death, it is certainly a good step onto the path of ecologically-friendly living.

Joy Paley is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on Accredited Online Colleges for Guide to Online Schools.