ECOtality Partners with Volkswagen Group to Install Blink® DC Fast Charger in Northern California

ECOtality, Inc., a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, today announced the first Blink® DC Fast Charger in the San Francisco Bay Area has been installed at Volkswagen Group of America’s Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) in Belmont, California.

The Blink DC Fast Charger is capable of providing an 80% charge in under 30 minutes for most electric vehicles (EVs).“Installing the first publicly accessible Blink DC Fast Charger in Northern California is essential for connecting the San Jose to San Francisco corridor and serves as a cornerstone for growing our EV charge infrastructure,” stated Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. “This installation symbolizes Volkswagen’s commitment to electric transportation and we look forward to working with them.”

Collaborating closely with the local utility, the installation of the DC Fast Charger will be open for public charging, and is the first deployed in California within The EV Project. Located just off Highway 101, the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory was chosen using criteria developed through the EV Micro-Climate™ process, which takes into account a variety of factors including traffic patterns, regional attractions, and retail hubs, as well as input from many regional partners.

“We are excited to partner with ECOtality to bring the first publicly available Blink DC Fast Charger to Northern California, reinforcing Volkswagen’s ongoing commitment to sustainable mobility and clean, efficient transportation,” said Dr. Peter Oel, executive director, Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory. “This collaboration underscores Volkswagen Group’s Think Blue environmental strategy and supports our goal of offering a competitive suite of market viable technologies that will significantly reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions for our customers today and into the future.”

The Blink DC Fast Charger is rated at 60 kW (200-450 VDC, up to 200A) and provides a quick, safe method of charging EVs. Ideally suited for high-traffic commercial locations and major transportation corridors, the dual-port charger features two EV fast charging connectors and provides an intuitive connector dock for storage and protection. The charger features two interactive touch screens and a 42” color display for media and messaging.

ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project, a research initiative to help build America’s future EV infrastructure. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of EVs in key markets. The project is a public-private partnership, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant and made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

About ECOtality, Inc.
ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), headquartered in San Francisco, California, 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.

About the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory
Volkswagen Group’s Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) located in Belmont, California represents the Group’s applied research and development initiatives in North America. With a focus on advanced technology, the ERL’s mission is to develop innovations for future generations of vehicles with the goal of transferring technologies from many industries into the automotive domain. The ERL was established in August of 1998 with three employees and today has grown to become the Volkswagen Group’s largest research facility outside of Germany employing approximately 100 engineers, social scientists, researchers, and product designers.

About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world’s third-largest automaker and the largest carmaker in Europe. It operates a manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee and houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as its finance subsidiary VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the company’s headquarters are in Herndon, Virginia. Volkswagen Group of America brings to the U.S. vehicles that marry the science of engineering and the art of styling, with the goal of offering attractive, safe, and environmentally sound automobiles that are competitive and set world standards in their respective classes. The company has more than 4,500 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through a 940-strong dealer network. With increasing popularity for its brands in the U.S., the company has set the goal of reaching one million car sales in the country by 2018.