Nissan and Car Charging Group, Inc., a nationwide provider of convenient electric vehicle (EV) charging services, announced a joint initiative to make EV charging more readily available and to expand consumer awareness of the electric car market. CarCharging and Nissan will work together to determine the placement of the chargers, which is expected to be in key markets throughout the U.S. by the end of 2013.
Nissan's quick charger stations drastically reduce charging times, charging a fully depleted Nissan LEAF to 80 percent capacity in approximately 30 minutes. The initial goal for the initiative is to deploy the 48 Nissan-branded quick chargers primarily in California and on the East Coast.
As a part of the initiative, CarCharging will continue to educate consumers about how the EV charging infrastructure enhances the adoption and use of electric cars. This campaign will include tools to communicate the charging opportunities for drivers without private garages, such as residents of apartment and condo communities; the ease and benefits of public EV charging; and charging subscription offerings.
CarCharging is also developing a mobile application to provide real-time charging station location information with turn-by-turn directions and access capability for all CarCharging EV charging stations, including ChargePoint and Nissan's quick chargers. CarCharging will also offer its proprietary evCharge card at no cost to all LEAF drivers at participating Nissan dealerships. The evCharge card allows drivers to initiate use and payment at all public charging stations on the ChargePoint Network, the largest national online network connecting EV drivers to EV charging stations.
Brendan Jones, Nissan director for EV Infrastructure, said, "Nissan's commitment to expanding EV charging infrastructure—including quick chargers with businesses such as CarCharging—not only supports today's Nissan LEAF and other EV drivers, but also helps prepare communities for the increasing use of EVs. With more than 25,000 Nissan LEAFs already on U.S. roads, bolstering infrastructure further accelerates the adoption curve as it provides range confidence and promotes additional zero-emissions driving."
"CarCharging is thrilled to enhance our products and services by including Nissan's quick chargers in our public EV charging network and to offer our evCharge card to consumers who purchase a LEAF at a Nissan dealership," said Michael D. Farkas, CEO of CarCharging. "Through our partnership with Nissan, we are eager to expand the EV market by educating consumers who don't live in single-family homes and may not be aware of public EV charging services available today."
EV drivers can easily pinpoint the new quick charger stations as well as all of CarCharging's EV charging station locations and request CarCharging's evCharge card via its website atwww.CarCharging.com.
To learn more about Nissan LEAF, the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle, visitwww.nissanusa.com/leaf.
