Fast Charging Standard Feud Could Delay Mass Adoption of Sustainable Electric Vehicles

Over the last few years, electric cars have seen a significant surge in popularity. With the launch of popular models such as Nissan's LEAF and the Chevy Volt, EVs would seem ready for their close-up. But is it really the case?

The New York Times has run a thought-provoking piece on one problem related to EVs threaten their conquering a significant share of the automobile market: the incompatibility of fast charging standards. The article correctly reminds us of the old days of Betamax and VHs video to give us an idea of the obstacles that lack of compatibility can present to the adoption of a new technology.

Charging an EV as rapidly as possible is a must if we want to have long-distance sustainable travel on these promising sustainable solutions. But all is not plain sailing in EV-land since Detroit and German automakers in May announced their own standard, which they have called DC-fast charging with a Combined Charging System. The problem is that Asian companies, including Nissan and Toyota, have already adopted a fast charging technology called CHAdeMO, which is present in around 1,500 chargers all over the world. Nissan and Toshiba say no new standard is necessary and adding a new one would be detrimental to the EV market.

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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.