If you drive an electric vehicle, chances are strong that you’re at least marginally aware of the company ChargePoint – formerly known as “Coulomb” Technologies (after the official unit of electric charge, if you cared to know). ChargePoint claims responsibility for “the world’s largest EV charging network,” and it’s expanding all the time.
Very soon, EV drivers everywhere will be able to take the ChargePoint network home with them, wrapped up in a product aptly named “ChargePoint Home.” The ChargePoint website boasts that the home EV charger will be capable of recharging up to 25 miles of range per hour, either hardwired into your home’s electrical, or plugged into a 240 V wall outlet (though that will likely cost you some charge speed). That’s about 6 times as fast as a standard 110 V charger, and enough to charge your 2016 or older Chevrolet Volt from dead flat to all full in two hours or less.
The ChargePoint Home boasts some other “smart” features as well, such as mobile phone interactivity which allows the EV owner to check their car’s current state-of-charge, or remotely start the charging process. The user can also program the ChargePoint Home to start pumping electrons into their Chevy Volt at certain times of day – such as at night, when rates are lower – and can receive important reminders from the unit automatically.
You know, in case you ever wanted to be texted by an appliance.
The ChargePoint Home hasn’t launched yet, although you can add your name to the Waitlist by visiting the company’s official website. It could just prove to be a useful and wise partner to your beloved Chevrolet Volt.
Comments
What a bunch of malarkey! My volt texts me when it’s done. I can check the state of charge with onstar. What’s my need to speed? I’m sleeping! Why do I need another subscription service? Is my hot tub hooked up to the “cloud”? They make things way to complicated to plug in a car and charge it. Clipper Creek chargers are fine for $379, or simply use the one that came with your car. They must really think consumers are stupid.
“need for speed”??
That is the probably the number one reason electrics have not taken over ICE in sales. If you could charge your car in the same time as filling it up with gas (say 10 minutes) and the price delta was the same as today they would sell like mad.
So this is one step in the right direction to make electrics ready for the masses. Even being able to charge for one hour to go do some shopping after getting home from work adds much functionality.