To E V McNutt EnvironSJ President From Betty Battery Design Engineer Date 9 15 2010 Subject Findings on development of electric vehicle infrastructure Regarding your request I have prepared an overview of some of the benefits and challenges associated with creating electric vehicle infrastructure in California I discuss existing charging infrastructure systems challenges associated with the creation of these systems and progress that could be made in the most cost efficient and ecologically beneficial way Existing Systems One of the most notable developers to the system as of this far has been Coulomb Technologies The company has created a Charge Point Network that allows subscribed consumers to use the charging stations This company has assets spread over the US and across other nations Another company known as Better Place is attempting to create a massive battery swap network for electric vehicles Most of this company s assets are currently located in Israel Australia and parts of the EU The company also plans expansions in Australia Hawaii and California Challenges in California California poses a challenge for most existing infrastructure systems the integration of an entirely new system will be particularly difficult The state already has issues meeting a growing demand for electrical power Un controlled private charging stations are likely to produce severe strain on the network as they draw a very large current As for the actual placement of stations the decentralized nature of most the state s population will require an immense network to actually reach its consumers This will require significant investment Some companies have chosen to begin installing their power stations in regions with the higher population densities such as San Francisco electric vehicle network n d This seems to be an effective method for introducing the new systems to the population However there is still the lack of capitol to make a usable system in vast regions like Los Angeles San Diego or more rural areas Battery swap stations seem a more reasonable method of recharging for these regions but a sufficient market is needed to make this a viable enterprise While there is a reduction in emissions from vehicles from these systems there is still the initial generation of electricity from some fuel source Peters n d Proposed Alternative The rise of electrical vehicles has been an important step in future technologies and their interactions with the environment However I do not believe the technology has reached a point to be implemented on a mass scale While there would no longer be emissions from vehicles under these systems there is still the initial electrical production After all these systems are completed we are still left with an alternative method of power production or a solution to the growing energy crisis I encourage you to look into power production systems and more specifically recent advances in fusion and fission research Some of the projects are Focus Fusion Dense Plasma Focus n d the tokomaks located in France nuclear recycling in Japan Nuclear Processing n d and new prototype fusion fission reactors Page n d These systems would allow a true independence from emissions and fossil fuels Perhaps after we repair and enhance existing infrastructure we will be ready for an electric vehicle charging infrastructure References Dense Plasma Focus n d Retrieved from http en wikipedia org wiki Dense plasma focus electric vehicle network n d Retrieved from Wikipedia http en wikipedia org wiki Electric vehicle network Nuclear Processing n d Retrieved from Wikipedia http en wikipedia org wiki Nuclear recycling Page L n d Hybrid fusion fission reactors to run on nuclear sludge Retrieved from theregister http www theregister co uk 2009 01 28 hybrid fusion fission nuke waste plan Peters K M n d Plug in electric vehicles pose challenges for feds Retrieved from govexec http www govexec com dailyfed 0609 061009kp1 htm
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