Schneider Electric Powers up Electric Vehicles with EVlink Outdoor Charging Stations

Schneider Electric announced the availability of the EVlink™ outdoor electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The outdoor EV charging stations are the newest addition to Schneider Electric’s EVlink portfolio, which consists of a comprehensive line of residential and commercial EV charging solutions. The availability of the EVlink outdoor chargers follows the launch of the company’s EVlink indoor residential charger, which was announced in February. The EVlink outdoor charging stations are a simple, easy-to-install, and user-friendly solution for recharging vehicles outside.

With EVs increasingly hitting the roads and President Obama’s call for one million EVs to be on the road by 2015, there is a growing demand for reliable charging infrastructure. Schneider Electric states that it is ready to meet that demand and speed the adoption of EVs globally with their comprehensive line of residential, commercial, and fast-charging EV chargers as well as installation and maintenance services through its EcoXpert™ training and certification program. Schneider Electric’s complete solution enables users to better manage their energy use and integrate with the Smart Grid by incorporating Schneider Electric’s Wiser™ Energy Management System to monitor, manage and make energy-use visible and actionable in their home.

Key features of the Schneider Electric EVlink outdoor charging stations include:

· Standards Compliance: UL listed and SAE J1772 compliance ensures compatibility with any electric vehicle entering the market today.

· Ground fault monitoring and protection: Detects ground faults and provides protection from power outages and lost connectivity. An integral ground fault interrupter set at 5mA provides protection to users if a ground fault is detected. Automatic recovery and re-start functionality allows charging to resume following a power loss or ground fault detection.

· DUAL Charging Option: Two charging circuits integrated into one pedestal offers lower installation and equipment cost, and ideal in when supporting multiple parking stall locations.

· Physical Specifications: The chargers are available in wall or pedestal mounts and in dual or single charging units. Authentication using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card scan ensures that only approved users can access the charging station.

"We know that charging EVs inherently adds new pressures to the grid," said Mike Calise, Director, Electric Vehicle Solutions, Power Business, Schneider Electric. "Schneider Electric is prepared to help commercial energy consumers and utilities work together to manage the additional load through our complete EV and energy management solutions. There continues to be an overwhelming response from our traditional customers to offer an integrated solution, including EV charging infrastructure and an infrastructure management system, that will enable better control over energy costs and Smart Grid integration."

The Schneider Electric EVlink level II basic outdoor EV chargers are available now and can be used for both commercial and residential applications. Schneider Electric will unveil additional residential and commercial level II and III EV charging solutions this year.