Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a subsidiary
of ECOtality, Inc. (OTCBB: ETLY), a leader in the clean electric
transportation and storage technologies, announced recently it has been
awarded an estimated $8 million from the California Energy Commission
to support the deployment of charge infrastructure and electric
vehicles (EVs) in the San Diego region as part of its "American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Cost Share: Alternative and
Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program."
"As eTec's proposed project to the U.S. Department of Energy is
anticipated to deploy up to 2,550 charging stations in the San Diego
area, this additional funding from the California Energy Commission
will allow for a substantial increase in the amount of charge
infrastructure deployed in the region," said Don Karner, president,
eTec. "We'd like to thank the California Energy Commission and the
State of California for their support of the largest transportation
electrification project ever and commend their strategic foresight in
positioning California as a leader in electric transportation."
The California Energy Commission awarded funds to projects that
successfully received federal funds from the U.S. Department of
Energy's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
Transportation Electrification Funding Opportunity Announcement. On
August 5, 2009 ECOtality's eTec was awarded $99.8 million from the U.S.
Department of Energy to implement the largest deployment of electric
vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure in U.S. history.
In eTec's proposed project to the U.S. Department of Energy, eTec is
partnering with Nissan North America to deploy up to 5,000 Nissan LEAF
EVs and approximately 12,750 charging stations throughout five states:
Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.
The project will
collect and analyze data characterizing vehicle use and charging
patterns in diverse topographies and climate conditions, evaluate the
effectiveness of charge infrastructure, and conduct trials of various
revenue systems for public charge infrastructure. By testing and
analyzing electric vehicle usage and charging patterns in a simulated
mature charging environment, this project will foster the expansion of
EV infrastructure that will be available for widespread EV use
throughout the country.
The California Energy Commission award affirms the position of the
State of California at the forefront of the electric transportation
evolution and ensures that the San Diego region will have one of the
most advanced EV charging infrastructures in the world," said Jonathan
Read, president and CEO, ECOtality.
"As the eTec project undertakes to
make America EV ready, stimulate job creation and enhance our energy
independence, this additional funding will help us achieve these
important objectives."
Regional project partner, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E),
will play an important role in the eTec project by evaluating demand
and energy impacts of EVs on the electric grid, potential electric
vehicle rate structures, smart grid interconnection requirements,
distribution grid impacts of EV charging demand and provide consumer
education in the San Diego area.
"As a strategic partner on the eTec project, we'd like to thank the
California Energy Commission for its funding award to the
transportation electrification project," said Debra L. Reed, president
and chief executive officer of San Diego Gas & Electric. "With this
award, we now have the resources available to make the San Diego region
first in the nation when it comes to truly being plug-in ready for
electric transportation."
In the San Diego region, partners for eTec's proposed project
include San Diego Gas & Electric, San Diego Associations of
Governments (SANDAG), San Diego Clean Fuels Coalition, San Diego
Miramar College, Center for Sustainable Energy and American Lung
Association (CA).
For more information about the California Energy Commission Notice of Proposed Award, please visit:
http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/PON-08-010_NOPA.PDF.
The final
award amount may vary and is subject to ongoing contract negotiations
with the California Energy Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy.
About eTec
Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a subsidiary
of ECOtality, is a recognized leader in the research, development and
testing of advanced transportation and energy systems. With over two
decades of electric transportation experience, eTec has been involved
in every electric vehicle initiative in North America since the 1990's.
Utilizing its patented industry-leading charging algorithm, eTec
operates the Minit-Charger line of battery fast charge systems for
on-road electric vehicle, transit, material handling and airport ground
support applications. For more information, please visit
www.etecevs.com or www.minit-charger.com.
About ECOtality, Inc.
ECOtality, Inc. (OTCBB: ETLY), headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona,
is a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies.
Through innovation, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, ECOtality
accelerates the market applicability of advanced electric technologies
to replace carbon-based fuels. For more information about ECOtality,
Inc. please visit www.ecotality.com.
