Looking to expand the privately funded, comprehensive eVgo electric vehicle (EV) charging ecosystem, AeroVironment (AV) has joined forces with NRG Energy, Inc.
AeroVironment will provide integrated data collection, communication and analysis systems that will power NRG’s eVgo network, apart from supplying, installing and supporting smart home and public charging stations. By the end of 2012, NRG Energy plans to install a total of 70 Freedom Stations in the DFW area. Of these, 35 are scheduled for installation by the end of 2011. Freedom Stations comprise one EVSE-CS and one EV50-PS.
AV develops and produces Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Efficient Electric Energy Technologies that enable its customers to rewrite the rules -- of engagement, productivity, efficiency and safety -- to their advantage.
“We look forward to continuing our work with NRG to provide practical, convenient charging ecosystems that will support EVs and their drivers,” said Tim Conver, AeroVironment chairman and chief executive officer. “Ecosystems like those we are deploying with NRG in Dallas and Houston will help increase the adoption of electric vehicles and bring us one step closer to energy independence.”
Along major freeways, in key shopping and business districts, at popular retailers and in multi-family community and workplace parking areas, the eVgo charging network will give DFW’s EV drivers ready access to charging stations. To make driving electric vehicles convenient and easy, AeroVironment and NRG Energy have developed a comprehensive charging solution that is ideally suited for NRG’s customers.
Recently, the company announced that it has developed the world’s first fully operational life-size hummingbird-like unmanned aircraft for DARPA. This is a technical milestone never before achieved. The aircraft carries its own energy source, and uses only the flapping wings for propulsion and control. The milestone was part of the Phase II contract awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to AV to design and build a flying prototype "hummingbird-like" aircraft.
Raju Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Raju’s articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by Tammy Wolf