Google Have Highest Electric Vehicle Charging Network

Count this as another perk of working for Google: free fuel for your electric car.

Google today said that it counts itself as the largest electric-vehicle charging station operator with about 200 chargers installed and another 250 ordered. The company's goal is to have 5 percent of its parking spaces equipped with electric-vehicle chargers, made available for free to Googlers.

"Our expanded charging system has already helped several Googlers decide to buy new EVs of their own, and we hope others will, too," wrote Rolf Schreiber, technical program manager for electric transportation at Google, in a company blog.

As it expands its current charging infrastructure, Google will be buying charge points supplied from Coulomb Technologies. These charge stations are networked and allow people to use Google Maps to find a free charge spot or make a reservation.

As part of its environmental sustainability initiatives, Google in 2007 purchased Toyota Priuses and Ford Escapes which are hybrids retrofitted with larger rechargeable batteries. Google now intends to expand that "Gfleet" to over 30 vehicles with the purchase of plug-in Chevy Volts and Nissan Leafs.

Employees can use Gfleet vehicles to get around campus or make errands. Between its plug-in car-sharing service and its biodiesel shuttle buses, Google estimates it's avoiding 14 million vehicle miles, or 5,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Fleet operators are critical to the adoption of plug-in electric passenger cars as buyers and providers of car charge points. Plug-in cars cost substantially more upfront than gasoline-only cars but fleet operators are more likely to consider the operating savings from using electricity as a fuel, rather than gas or diesel. Alternative-fuel vehicles can also be a visible way to demonstrate corporate sustainability efforts.

Google has a number of green initiatives, including bets on renewable-energy companies and investments in solar and wind projects. Expanding its fleet is part of its program to promote green technology and practices, said Rick Needham, director of green business operations. "We hope other companies will take a look at these technologies and figure out how they can incorporate them into their own operations," he said.

Ford launch C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi Electric Cars

Ford launch C-Max Hybrid and Ford is planning to grab a large piece of the electric vehicle market pie. The U.S. automaker today announced plans to triple production of its electrifying platforms.

In a press conference on Livestream, Jim Farley, group vice president of marketing, sales and service said the company will triple production capacity of electrified vehicles in the U.S. by 2013. Ford plans to invest more in the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid vehicles, but will not be bringing the C-Max mini van to production.

"Customers have come to expect fuel efficiency with every new vehicle Ford delivers today, and now we are further differentiating our electrified vehicle lineup with something else people truly value--choice," said Farley. "Whether people want a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicle, we have a family of vehicles for them to consider, providing a range of options to best meet their needs and support their driving habits and lifestyles."

Ford currently sells about 35,000 electrified vehicles a year--including the Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid. With the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, Ford will bring its electrified vehicle production capacity to more than 100,000 annually by 2013.

Ford uses lithium ion battery packs for C-Max Hybrid, and larger lithium ion battery packs for C-Max Energi, but the vehicles still have room for five passengers--opposed to the Chevy Volt's seating for four.

The battery packs are up to 50 percent lighter and 25 percent smaller than current nickel-metal-hydride batteries and increase the amount of energy available to extend the vehicle's driving distance and boost fuel economy.

Farley did not say how long of a range the car will travel in "electric-only" mode, but said total

range would be about 500 miles. He also said the vehicle is rated at 41 mpg on the highway.

As for home charging the C-Max Energi, Farley said, the home charging stations will be available at a lower cost than those of competitors. And, he said, Ford is working with Microsoft on a new Web-based interface designed to ensure the vehicle charges only when electricity rates are lowest.

Ford will also invest $135 million and add more than 220 "green technology" jobs in Michigan, and 50 new electrified-vehicle engineers. The Michigan assembly plant will also be retooled to build the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi.

The C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi will be available in 2012. No price has been announced yet.