The B2B platform for full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Industry News

With Japanese electric vehicles arriving to Europe, European companies involved with fast charging stations are taking up the CHAdeMO standard developed in Japan. In the US, on the other hand, a Californian company announced it had started delivering the only UL listed, fully SAE compliant charging stations on the market.

During the presentation of the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV) in Amsterdam, Netherlands last week, Dutch company Epyon demonstrated the fast charging technology it has developed.

Fast charging stations supporting CHAdeMO to diffuse in Europe

With Epyon having joined CHAdeMO (CHArge de MOve), a group seeking to standardise fast-charging stations for electric cars, last month, its fast charger also supports the international CHAdeMO standard. Although this is a Japanese standard, it is becoming a worldwide standard as those vehicles leave Japan. Indeed, as the Nissan LEAF becomes available in Europe later in 2010, chargers supporting the Japanese standard will also diffuse in the region.

According to Epyon, its fast charger will recharge the Nissan LEAF up to 80% within 30 minutes. A single station will operate a number of compact outlets, allowing several EVs to be charged at the same time from a single station, while a web-based network will allow charging station operators to configure, manage and maintain the stations remotely.

UL listed, SAE compliant charging stations in the US

Across the Atlantic Ocean, California-based company ClipperCreek has announced that it had started delivering the only charging stations on the market that is Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed and fully compliant with standards developed by SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers).

According to the company, its CS-40 (30 Amp charge rate) line of products are the only charging stations currently available for delivery that meet the requirements of the National Electric Code (NEC625). The charging stations comply also with SAE standard SAE-J1772™ regarding EV conductive charge couplers, ensuring their compatibility with different major brands of EVs and PHEVs.