“We will continue to partner with leading, innovative companies like Sprint”
“We will continue to partner with leading, innovative companies like Sprint,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. “With the Sprint Command Center technology, our Blink EV charging stations are provided with the reliable wireless connectivity necessary to power the advanced capabilities of the Blink Network and ensure customer satisfaction. In addition, we are able to conduct a variety of business services, from monitoring to electronic payments. EV drivers will be able to depend on our chargers for smart operation, intuitive features, and reliable connectivity.”
ECOtality will install the company’s Blink electric vehicle charging stations across the country, and will install nearly 15,000 Level 2 chargers at residential and commercial locations, and over 300 DC Fast Charging ports at public and commercial sites now, and throughout 2011. Through ECOtality’s new partnership, Sprint will provide the wireless network that will allow ECOtality to monitor and manage the Blink Network, an infrastructure of electric vehicle chargers across the United States, for use by consumers as well as commercial hosts. In addition, the Blink Network will prove access to a web portal containing a wealth of information about consumer’s electric vehicles, and charging habits.
“Sprint is proud to provide advanced wireless network services that will allow ECOtality to monitor and manage their Blink Network,” said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint. “In addition, our wireless data network will help process a variety of electronic payments and deliver digital content for advertising and information.”
The Blink Network is accessible from any Blink charging station, over the internet, and on your Smartphone. Additionally, because every Blink charging station is capable of communicating through a variety of methods, information is also available by wireless cellular, LAN/Ethernet, and Zigbee SEP 1.0 capable devices. From within the Blink Network, consumers will be able to locate Blink charging stations complete with GPS navigation, check charging station availability, and receive notifications of charge interruption and completion.
Businesses can take advantage of the advertising opportunities available through the Blink Ad Network, providing ad space on the Blink Pedestal Chargers and Blink DC Fast Chargers. Each Blink DC Fast Charger is equipped with a stunning, daylight readable, 42-inch color LCD display, and a 7-inch LCD touchscreen display on the Pedestal unit. Media content can be both tailored to specific markets and broadcast nationally across Blink Network charger locations. Additionally, the chargers offer retailers the ability to develop coordinated campaigns to display relevant content and promotions, extending the consumer experience from the charging station into their business.
As part of The EV Project, the largest rollout of EV infrastructure in history, ECOtality will monitor the energy usage and output of charging stations, to determine a viable method for mass adoption of electric vehicles and empower the smart grid. For ECOtality’s commercial charging stations, Sprint’s data network will also help to process a variety of electronic payments, and even deliver digital content for advertising and information.
ECOtality is project manager of The EV Project and will oversee the installation of 15,000 commercial and residential charging stations in 16 cities and major metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8 million, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grants are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to approximately $230 million.
ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies with a full range of products for charging electric vehicles (EV). Through innovation, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, ECOtality accelerates the market applicability of advanced electric technologies to replace carbon-based fuels.
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48.8 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company.
