Ohio’s First Electric Car Charging Station

Written by Innovate New Albany@InnovateNA13 years ago

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With electric cars gaining in popularly, AEP Ohio and Walmart premiered the region’s first free, public electric-vehicle charging station at the Walmart Supercenter/Sam’s Club at 3900 Morse Road.

The Blink® charging station was developed by San Francisco-based ECOtality, Inc., a provider of clean electric transportation and storage technologies. The charging station features two Blink Pedestal units that allow two drivers to charge their electric vehicles simultaneously.

According to AEP, by 2015, there could be a million PEVs on the road, which is why AEP has launched the demonstration project to determine the best way to integrate plug-in electric vehicles into its electricity distribution system. To analyze the new demand, up to ten people will drive a PEV as part of their daily routine to assess the amount of power needed for basic travel, effects of PEV charging during peak electricity periods and the quality of charging technology .

The charging station is part of AEP Ohio’s gridSMART® initiative to promote energy efficiency and Walmart’s corporate “Sustainability 360” effort. The gridSMART® initiative is designed to provide customers greater energy control and improve electric distribution service and performance through with rebates and cost incentives, plus tips, tools and technologies. New Albany is proud to be one of the pilot communities participating in the initiative.

Innovate New Albany, the city’s incubator for technology startups, entrepreneurs and small businesses, features 16,000 square feet of space within the New Albany Business Park’s Signature Office Building, 8000 Walton Parkway.