Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Major EV Charging Pact Announced for US Drivers

A parking lot in Rosemead, California, with two electric vehicle charging stations. (Photo Credit: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Click to Enlarge.
A strategic partnership involving some of the world’s biggest car-makers has been launched that plans to roll-out expanded charging and communication capabilities for electric vehicle drivers in the US.

The pact is between EV charging company Blink and Hubject, an association of automotive and  energy technology firms including BMW, Daimler, Siemens, and Volkswagen.

Blink's nationwide network of chargers will become accessible to all EV drivers who utilize a Hubject charging platform called intercharge via a membership card and app.  It will also allow Blink members to quickly and easily find, access and pay at all participating charging stations from various charging networks with one account, one card, one app and one bill.

Blink said that its 135,000 members “will be able to quickly and easily access charging stations on Hubject participating networks while driving in the US, without having to register with any other charging companies”.

“This partnership allows members of other networks on Hubject's platform to charge their electric vehicles at Blink's charging stations." said Michael D. Farkas, founder of Blink.  "Additionally, we believe that partnerships like the one announced today will serve to improve charging station infrastructure, enhance the EV driver user experience, further accelerate EV adoption and expand Blink's market-leading position."

The partnership between Blink and Hubject will become operational early next year, 2019.

A key part of the pact involves the two companies working with automobile manufacturers in implementing the ISO 15118 communication protocol, which is intended to be the first step in implementing “seamless communication between electric vehicles and charging networks without the need for any human interaction during the charging process”.

Blink said “this telemetry between electric vehicles, charging networks and OEMs is also designed to allow the OEMs to incorporate critical EV data into future EV design as well as to layout the groundwork for enhanced EV ownership programs and develop transportation as a service business model”.

Paul Glenney, North American chief executive of Hubject, said the partnership with Blink “presents an incredible opportunity to set the standard for open collaboration in our e-mobility industry.  Our shared philosophy will help to get more Americans to drive electric vehicles."

Read more at Major EV Charging Pact Announced for US Drivers

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