The electric vehicle home charger market is sizzling with new and improved home chargers. Ecotality is announcing its Blink HQ, which offers a good value for homeowners.
From the Release
Blink network users, rejoice, the new home solution from Ecotality Blink brings you two new programmable Level 2 (240V) home chargers. The 30-Amp home charger comes with options to delay its charge for optimized night rates and remote access. The Blink HQ also comes with a free membership to the Blink Network and a $100 charging credit with purchase.
The new Blink HQ chargers offer one important aspect, that of connecting to its Ecotality network of public chargers when on the road. Ecotality feels this should ease electric vehicle range confidence by connecting their home charger with Blink Network’s 4,000+ publicly available charging stations. Add to this the $100 charging credit on its network and the deal becomes even sweeter.
According to Ravi Brar, CEO of ECOtality: “Our premiere line of Blink HQ home charging products offer EV drivers exactly what they’ve been asking for: connection to the Blink Network, freedom to charge at home at their convenience and unprecedented value… We see a clear connection between charging at home, at work, while shopping or on the road during a trip.”
When can we expect it? The first new Blink HQ model will launch early summer 2013 with reservations now being accepted. With over 8,300 residential chargers in 38 states, Blink has built itself as one of the leaders in charging hardware and management.
The Blink HQ family of products comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty, as well as qualified drivers eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $1,000 on the purchase and installation of a residential charging station through the end of 2013.
Technically Speaking
- Power Input 208-240 VAC, single phase, 30 A maximum, 60 Hz
- Standby Power <5 W
- Delay Timer 2, 4, 6, or 8-hour delay, user selected
- Operating Temperature -22F to 122F
- Charging Cable Length 18 feet
- Enclosure NEMA Type 3R
- Size 13.8 W x 15.7 H x 5.0 D inches
- Weight 15.4 pounds
- Safety Listing UL
The War Is On
The home charger war is still heating up as more competitors step up to the plate. Interestingly enough we are also witnessing a trend with these early companies. Many seem to either focus on the hardware, i.e. the manufacturing of chargers, or the management aspect. Ecotality’s direct competition until now has been ChargePoint. ChargePoint was the hardware arm of Coulomb Technologies, now gearing itself toward network management. Both Blink and ChargePoint are now working on interoperability.
Stay tuned for another interesting player Greenlots which promises open standards and billing interoperability between all and any chargers, private and public.
