San Francisco unveils charging stations for EVs

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - Coulomb Technologies announced San Francisco has installed its Smartlet Networked Charging Stations at City Hall. The charging stations are a part of a two-year public demonstration conducted within the city - a pilot project to power San FranciscoÂ’s plug-in fleet and car-share plug-in vehicles.

CoulombÂ’s charging infrastructure is providing the City of San Francisco special networked features that address electric vehicle fleet needs.

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Coulomb CEO Richard Lowenthal unveiled the charging stations, announcing the CityÂ’s Green Vehicle Showcase outside City Hall; part of the Bay AreaÂ’s regional EV initiative.

“Our goal is to transform the Bay Area into the EV Capital of the United States, and a networked infrastructure is essential for the adoption of electric vehicles,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. “San Francisco is proud to be the first city to feature charging stations with technology to support our city's clean electric fleet vehicles and car-share fleets.”

Three of CoulombÂ’s networked charging stations are located across the street from City Hall on the plaza. CoulombÂ’s charging stations are part of a smart networked charging infrastructure, called the ChargePoint Network that addresses needs of electric vehicle drivers, utilities, municipalities, and parking space owners.

The City of San Francisco’s charging stations have new technology that supports clean fleets like those owned by the City. The “Fleet Management Portal” includes such features as interactive charts that summarize gasoline saved and greenhouse gases saved, displays of which vehicles are charging, which vehicles are fully charged, and which vehicles are overdue for charging.

The Fleet Management Portal also includes smartphone text messaging that alerts EV drivers when cars need charging, when they are fully charged, and when charging is interrupted.

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates that the Bay Area is the epicenter of the electric vehicle movement,” said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies. “A smart, networked infrastructure is an essential enabler of this movement and the City of San Francisco is leading by example. The success and adoption of electric vehicles will require progressive leadership by drivers, utilities, governments, and businesses. We commend and thank the City and Mayor Newsom for welcoming EV’s to the San Francisco Bay Area.”