This collaboration will help Ecotality manage its Blink brand charging station operations, transfer usage data, download firmware updates and publish availability to EV drivers in real time by using a commercial cellular network.
Ecotality plans to start deploying cellular-enabled charging stations this year under a $230m EV project that involves the US Department of Energy; Ecotality North America; and more than 40 project partners.
The EV project will lead to the deployment of up to 8,300 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and nearly 15,000 residential and public charging systems. All chargers to be deployed under this program and those carrying Ecotality’s Blink brand will be cellular network-enabled by Qualcomm technology.
Andy Wood, director of business development at Qualcomm, said: “Real-time communications are critical for massive deployment of both EVs and charging infrastructure. We are committed to helping charging station providers take advantage of the coverage, scalability and reliability provided by commercial cellular networks in order to satisfy this essential requirement.”
