Automakers agree on common plug to recharge electric vehicles

[Niels Bohr 72]

April 19th, 2009 Leading automotive and energy companies have reached agreement on a common "plug" to recharge electric cars, a spokeswoman for German energy company RWE said Sunday.

The three-point, 400-volt plug, which will allow electric cars to be recharged anywhere in a matter of minutes, is set to be unveiled Monday at the world's biggest industrial technology fair in Hanover, northern Germany.

"A car must be able to be recharged in Italy in exactly the same way as in Denmark, Germany or France," an RWE spokeswoman, Caroline Reichert, was quoted as saying in an edition of Die Welt to appear Monday.

She gave no timeframe for the introduction of the plug, saying that talks between the companies were ongoing.

The agreement on a common standard for the plug comprises several major automakers, including Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Fiat, Toyota and Mitsubishi.

Energy firms signed up to the accord include Eon, Vattenfall, EDF, Npower, Endesa and Enel.

Berlin hopes that one million electric cars will be on the road by 2020. RWE and Daimler launched a pilot project in Berlin in September.

The development of a common plug is a major step towards the mass production of electric cars, Reichert told Die Welt.

© 2009 AFP

[Danno 1,228]

Now if they can just attract "buyers" of the Electric car.

I still cannot figure out with all these so-called "GReen cities", why just one of these liberal strong holds don't mandate that all Govt fleets be replace with electric ones?

Wouldn't it be cool if Portland had 100% police, Ambulance, gov. cars, Park service and even the mayor all "Charging up"?

People would become more familiar and see the advantages of "going electric"?

Why does not one city do more than a tokens worth of electric?

[Niels Bohr 72]

Now if they can just attract "buyers" of the Electric car.

I still cannot figure out with all these so-called "GReen cities", why just one of these liberal strong holds don't mandate that all Govt fleets be replace with electric ones?

Wouldn't it be cool if Portland had 100% police, Ambulance, gov. cars, Park service and even the mayor all "Charging up"?

People would become more familiar and see the advantages of "going electric"?

Why does not one city do more than a tokens worth of electric?

Conservatives are predictable. You'll see what happens after it happens. That's why conservative can't do anything without liberals.

Edited April 20, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[Danno 1,228]

Now if they can just attract "buyers" of the Electric car.

I still cannot figure out with all these so-called "GReen cities", why just one of these liberal strong holds don't mandate that all Govt fleets be replace with electric ones?

Wouldn't it be cool if Portland had 100% police, Ambulance, gov. cars, Park service and even the mayor all "Charging up"?

People would become more familiar and see the advantages of "going electric"?

Why does not one city do more than a tokens worth of electric?

Conservatives are predictable. You'll see what happens after it happens. That's why conservative can't do anything without liberals.

In a clumsy way you make a good point.

Liberals are more likely to try schemes such as this... and occasionally thats a good thing.

Now are you aware of a city that has done this already?

I think DC has some buses running on Nat gas but thats more a token effort not likely to bring the revolutionary change we need.

[Niels Bohr 72]

There's a test market out in California on Electric Cars. There are a few places that have them implemented throughout the US, UK, and Japan. We'll see how it goes.

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

That's why conservative can't do anything without liberals.

yeah man!

[Niels Bohr 72]

That's why conservative can't do anything without liberals.

yeah man!

[DeadPoolX 9]

I'm not against the idea of electric cars, but they need to do more than reduce pollution and get better gas mileage. All of that's good, but if the car can't perform on the road (especially freeways) to the same degree as a gas-powered car, then very few will buy it.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I'm not against the idea of electric cars, but they need to do more than reduce pollution and get better gas mileage. All of that's good, but if the car can't perform on the road (especially freeways) to the same degree as a gas-powered car, then very few will buy it.

I worked with them. In fact, I got to sample NYC 2009 Car Expo an all electric car. It drives better than gasoline. Immediate response when hit the pedals. It also feels like it responds quicker than the gas-powered cars. It has approximately the same torque as a 4 cylinder car. Well, the car I drove anyway.

Don't bother which car I drove. I signed an NDA.

Edited April 20, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[mawilson 2,133]

Don't bother which car I drove. I signed an NDA.

Probably a Honda.

[NickD 203]

Common plug? Common charging voltage? Seems to translate into all electrical vehicles will be the same, where would be the innovation. But maybe all we need is one electrical vehicle manufacturer, we learned how to live with just one operating system supplier for our computers.

How about all electrical vehicles be charged by whatever electrical power is common in that country. Already a standard, if yet another standard is adopted, wouldn't be any standards.