All About Japan Autos

With hybrid and electric cars like the Chevrolet Volt, Honda CR-Z and Nissan Leaf entering the market, one question is on consumers’ minds: Where can I plug-in my car.

Best Buy hopes to make driving electric vehicles easier by installing Ecotality charging stations at some of its stores on the west coast. “Under the terms of the agreement, Blink EV charging stations will be installed at 12 select Best Buy stores in Tucson, Ariz., Phoenix, Ariz., Los Angeles, Calif., San Diego, Calif., and Seattle, Wash. Charging stations at these stores, within pilot markets of The EV Project, will be installed by March 2011,” Ecotality states in a press release.

Kicking Tires says “[t]he charging ports are a part of the EV Project, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and the private firm ECOtality. More stores could be added, depending on whether Best Buy shoppers use the test ports.”

The Blink charging station is pretty high tech. It “works at 240 volts, has a touch-screen display, and connects to the Internet to give drivers statistics, such as charge status and driving history,” CNET writes. Each charge should take between two and six hours.

Best Buy’s Blink chargers are a trial run. “Because it’s so early in electric vehicle adoption, it’s unclear how much drivers will use public charging stations in retail outlets or parking lots,” says CNET. “The Best Buy installation will be one of a number of trials in the U.S. to see how useful these public locations are and whether retailers can make money by investing in the charging stations.”

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