As gas prices at the pump increase, so has the demand for electric vehicles and sustainable transportation. More car manufactures are entering the market to meet consumer demands, but still face challenges in making these vehicles affordable and attractive in terms of design and performance. One component of the the electric vehicle industry we believe will see some changes is how, when, and where owners can charge their vehicles. He are our top three trends to look out for in 2013.
1. The number of structures and charging stations will increase to support electric vehicle owners. Manufacturers have come to the realization that people will not buy electric vehicles without enough charging stations when they travel. The government has issued a number of grants to technology companies to begin building these structures to meet demand once the market arrives.
Photo credit: Electric Vehicle News
2. The new charging stations will be easier to find and access. Google and the Department of Energy (DOE) have collaborated to create an online network of all the charging stations in the US. This will serve as the primary source of data for GPS and mapping systems used in your car or on your phone. There are also a number of smartphone apps that can identify nearby charging stations but may not have the same capacity as Google and the DOE.
3. There will be an increase in Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging. Qualcomm designed Wireless Electric Charging (WEVC) that uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy and eliminate the need for direct contact through cables. Drivers are able to remain seated while their car charges on a charging pad. Similar concepts and vehicles have emerged from Rolls-Royce, Nissan, Google and Hertz.
Keep an eye out for new and wireless charging stations in your city and let us know what you think are the most blog worthy trends of 2013. Have a happy and green new year!
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