"We are proud to be the first in the region to install car chargers in our public parking areas, improving resources and options for motorists to use alternative vehicles and minimize Norwalk’s carbon footprint as we move towards becoming a greener city," said Mayor Richard Moccia.
Car Charging Group will install Level II ChargePoint® Networked Charging Stations for EVs which are manufactured by Coulomb Technologies. The 7.2 kW output delivers Level II (208/240 VAC @ 30 A) charging via the standard SAE J1772™ connector and fixed 18-foot cable. The 2 kW output delivers Level I (120 VAC @ 16 A) charging via a standard NEMA 5-20 receptacle protected behind a locking door. Both outputs can deliver energy simultaneously.
The Norwalk Parking Authority, an enterprise fund, is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the city’s municipal parking system, consisting of four parking structures, six surface lots and on-street parking. The car chargers are part of the Norwalk Parking Authority’s commitment to making operations more sustainable. Other recent green initiatives include the installation of solar powered pay stations, environmentally friendly lighting at all Norwalk Parking Authority garages and the use of a T3 scooter for security at the South Norwalk railroad station which costs only 10 cents per day with little or no maintenance compared to using a gas truck.
"Our goal is to assist businesses, residents and visitors with their parking needs. With the impending arrival of the first electric cars from mainstream companies, drivers will be on the hunt for a charging station, not a gas station, and the Norwalk Parking Authority is preparing to open a wave of charging stations over the next year to meet their needs," says John Federici, Chairman of the Norwalk Parking Authority.
All ChargePoint networked EV charging stations are managed by the ChargePoint® Network and provide EV drivers the ability to locate and navigate to the charging station from any smart phone and the ability to detect charging station availability from a smart phone or Google Maps. The ChargePoint Network also facilitates EV trip mapping, driver billing, 24/7 driver assistance, and greenhouse gas and energy savings (kWh) measurement.
A recent report, "Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment," estimates that there will be 4.7 million residential, public, private and workplace charging stations installed globally during the period from 2010 to 2015. And in the U.S., there will likely be almost one million charging stations by 2015.
"We are currently working with forward-thinking businesses, property owners and municipalities across the nation to build out the necessary infrastructure to support the mass adoption of EVs," said Car Charging Group CEO Michael D. Farkas. "We envision a vast network of charging stations that will make designated electric vehicle spots as ubiquitous as handicapped spaces in the near future."
Car Charging Group, Inc. is an owner and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations with the mission to build-out a nationwide infrastructure, enabling EV and PHEV owners to charge their EVs anytime, anywhere. As part of its strategy, the Company owns, provides, installs and maintains electric vehicle charging units and works with its landowner partners to identify appropriate locations for its charging stations. The Company provides convenient, safe and affordable charging stations away from home in customer-friendly public locations, including municipalities, shopping malls and parking garages.
Car Charging Group and other companies in the EV industry realize the need to establish charging station networks throughout the transportation infrastructure to provide easy access to energy everywhere drivers live and work. By investing at the forefront of the electric car revolution, Car Charging Group seeks to become the leading provider of electric car charging services. The Company launched its operations nationally in September of 2009 and is expanding its operations internationally.
The Norwalk Parking Authority is a financially self-sustaining organization responsible for the operation and maintenance of the municipal parking system in Norwalk. The Authority is committed to collaborating with community organizations while providing exceptional customer service to parking customers.
