Innovation

Photos: The tech behind electric vehicles

By // October 23, 2014, 4:00 AM PST // lyndseygilpin

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  • AV Service Kit

    This AeroVironment service toolkit allows owners to charge and troubleshoot directly from home at any time. Ford cars are compatible with this particular kit, and a network of AV-certified installers. AV is a California-based company that provides energy system and EV system solutions.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: Ford

  • Solar-powered stations

    Envision Solar has a Solar Tree structure that covers six parking spaces and generates enough electricity to power six electric vehicles every day. It supports many varieties of modules and an integrated management system. The Solar Tree Socket is similar, but made for just one parking space for more urban environments.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: Envision Solar

  • EV Connect

    EV Connect offers charging station businesses EV charging stations, management and network software, and enterprise solutions. The cloud-based EV connect network can manage geographically diverse charging stations and remotely control them. The network can turn charging stations on or off, reserve them, and set prices and notifications.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: EV Connect

  • Estimation software

    Researchers at North Carolina State University said they have developed software that estimates how much farther EVs need to drive before they should recharge, and they said it's more accurate than the existing software. It looks at traffic data, weather data, road grades, and other variables to determine a more accurate number of miles left. Their white paper, which will be released this month, is called "Big-Data Framework for Electric Vehicle Range Estimation."

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: NC State University

  • Combo connector

    This charging connector allows for current and fast charging on the same port. The J1772 Combination Charger, which was a standard set by the Society of Automotive Engineers in 2009, is compatible with home and public outlets and can stand an ultra-fast current for charging in 15 to 20 minutes. The system allows for charging at 500 volts.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: BMW

  • EVlink

    EVlink offers charging stations for home, business, and fleets of EVs. The systems are made by Schneider Electric and are compatible with most EVs. This photo is of a business system, which can be wall-mounted or stand on the ground. It's compliant with the open communication standards set by the industry, which allow for constant communication with the central management system.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: EVlink

  • Faster-charging batteries

    New lithium-ion batteries charge to 70% in just five minutes, and they may change the game for anything from smartphones to EV batteries (which are the most expensive and problematic part of EV adoption). The new battery, which comes out of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU), can allegedly last up to 20 years. It uses a titanium dioxide gel instead of graphite for its anodes, which they said is the defining factor.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: Nanyang Technological University

  • TurboCord

    This TurboCord charger is 240 volts and the smallest EV charging solution. It has a 20 foot cable and is portable to take and charge anywhere, since it is compatible with Level 2 charging stations.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: TurboCord

  • Tesla's Universal Mobile Connector

    The Universal Mobile Connector enables a recharge in 6 hours or less. The kit includes a NEMA 14-50 adapter, but 10 additional adapters for other stations are available for purchase. It's ideal for road trips, Tesla's website said.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: Tesla

  • PlugShare

    PlugShare is an EV charging station map for North America, complete with a trip planner to find out where the stations will be along your route. Each point on the map tells what kind of station it is and what cars it is compatible with.

    SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

    Image: PlugShare

AV Service Kit

This AeroVironment service toolkit allows owners to charge and troubleshoot directly from home at any time. Ford cars are compatible with this particular kit, and a network of AV-certified installers. AV is a California-based company that provides energy system and EV system solutions.

SEE: The challenges of EV charging: 10 things to know

Image: Ford

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By Lyndsey Gilpin

Lyndsey Gilpin is a former Staff Writer for TechRepublic, covering sustainability and entrepreneurship. She's co-author of the book Follow the Geeks.