Charge 'er up: Japanese automakers back standard for electric vehicle recharging stations

Apparently, Toyota and Nissan have teamed up to create an organization called CHAdeMO that is working standardizing the stations were you might charge up your electric or hybrid vehicle in the future.

The idea is that cars from different brands should be able to use the same general equipment for recharging, instead of relying on a different format. Consider the mess that exists today when it comes to charging your notebook computer -- different cords very virtually every sort of computer -- and you could see how fragmentation could lead to adoption paralysis.

The group will test the standard in Japan, but they hope it will be adopted internationally. Aside from Toyota and Nissan, Initial backers of the concept include Tokyo Electric Co., Mitsubishi Motors and Fuji Heavy Industries (which makes the Subaru brands). Non-Japanese companies that are said to be interested in the effort include PG&E, Enel SpA, Endesa and PSA Peugeot Citroen.