Google experiments with plugless charging for electric vehicles
Summary:Yep, we all know that Google is pretty fanatical when it comes to green and clean technology research and development. So I wasn't surprised to hear last night that the giant Internet company is among the first to install a new wireless electric vehicle charging system from Plugless Power.
Yep, we all know that Google is pretty fanatical when it comes to green and clean technology research and development. So I wasn't surprised to hear last night that the giant Internet company is among the first to install a new wireless electric vehicle charging system from Plugless Power. The technology, which requires a retrofit of your electric vehicle, will be trialed at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. You car charges when you park it over the device (ala the photo to the right). Google uses a number of low-speed electric vehicles on its campus for short distance travel needs; right now, it uses plug-in charging stations.
This will be the first public pilot of the technology, which was developed by a company called Evatran. Plugless Power is actively seeking other potential partners for tests in the third quarter of 2011, from among both potential commercial and public sector clients. The technology is supposed to work with most electric vehicle models, but it DOES require a retrofit. The little promo video below provides a deeper illustration of how the technology works:
Heather Clancy is an award-winning business journalist specializing in transformative technology and innovation. Her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune Small Business, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. In a past corporate life, Heather was editor of Computer Reseller News. She started her journalism lif...
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I am fascinated about how businesses of all sizes can transform their operations through technology -- not just to make themselves more efficient, but to rise above their competitors. That's the theme for my two ZDNet blogs, Small Business Matters and Next-Gen Partner. For SmartPlanet, I'm focused on profiling inspirational and controversial business leaders who have great leadership lessons to share. I also write regularly and passionately about corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues for GreenBiz.com.
Occasionally, I will pop up at an industry conference in some sort of speaking capacity. In cases where an engagement involves a sponsor that may be covered in this blog, that fact will be disclosed in coverage as appropriate.
My corporate writing work usually consists of crafting research white papers about some aspect of technology or moderating Webcasts. In the event that my commentary (in written, audio or video form) mentions a company for which I have provided consulting advice, I will disclose that fact. However, there is no connection between these projects and topics that I cover in my blogs.
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