ECOtality, the project manager of the electric vehicle (EV) project, will install Blink residential EV chargers in homes throughout EV project regions nationwide to support the deployment of more than 8,300 EVs.
The company has recently started mass manufacturing of its Blink charging stations at the Roush manufacturing facility outside of Detroit.
Under the project, ECOtality will monitor the energy usage and output of charging stations to determine a viable method for mass adoption of electric vehicles and empower the smart grid, and will oversee the installation of commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas throughout six states and the District of Columbia.
The smart Blink home charger allows for increased cost-savings through improved power management and boasts an intuitive set of features, including a 7-inch color touch-screen control panel and a configurable design.
Portland General Electric, a participant in the EV project, will provide electric transportation services to the company.
This residential installation launch events in Los Angeles and San Diego mark the first step in the deployment of a rich charging infrastructure, as well as the culmination of nearly two years of EV project planning, the company said.
The project is funded by the US Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8m made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to $230m.
