IBM has teamed with ESB ecars to implement a fully integrated smarter charging IT system that will help manage electric vehicle public charge points, which are being rolled out across Ireland by ESB ecars. Together the companies will add a layer of intelligence and convenience to the charging process, allowing EV drivers to access, charge and pay, using an identification card. MORE

announced at the New York International Auto Show that they are teaming up to implement the Microsoft Hohm energy management application for Ford’s electric vehicles. Ford is the first automaker to announce the planned use of Hohm, starting with the Focus Electric next year. For the vehicle application, Hohm will help owners determine when and how to most efficiently and affordably recharge battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles. MORE

Nuvve Corporation, a leader in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, and IoTecha Corp., a provider of electric vehicle (EV) smart charging technology, are joining forces to deploy and commercialize a bidirectional charging solution for electric vehicles with the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) plugs supporting the ISO/IEC15118 protocol. One of the first implementations of this integration will benefit electric school buses. MORE

Electrify America has selected Greenlots , a leading provider of grid-enabled electric vehicle (EV) smart charging solutions, to deliver the operating platform for its network of high-power fast chargers that will greatly expand highway and other EV charging capabilities across the United States. Community-based charging station sites will be built in workplaces, retail (shopping centers, restaurants, etc.), MORE

a producer of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and partner Silver Spring Networks, a provider of smart grid solutions, are participating in a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) pilot program sponsored by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Charging stations will relay metered electricity usage data in the same way a meter on a house does. MORE

The event brought together technical experts from industry, government, and other stakeholders to compare and discuss standardization priorities for electric vehicles (EVs) outlined in the October 2011 Report of the CEN-CENELEC Focus Group on European Electro-Mobility and the April 2012 Standardization Roadmap for Electric Vehicles – Version 1.0, developed by the ANSI Electric Vehicles Standards Panel ( EVSP ). Vehicle-to-grid communications. MORE

Having already made significant in-roads into the electric vehicle market, Smart is now planning to introduce its second generation electric drive Smart Fortwo with production to begin in early November. The second generation of the vehicle boasts a 14kWh lithium-ion battery pack from Tesla Motors housed between the axles and a 30kW electric motor that is fitted at the rear and offers 120Nm of torque. MORE

Electrify America and Hubject, a recognized leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging interoperability and “Plug&Charge” technology capabilities, announced a strategic agreement that will allow people to pay for their electric vehicle charging simply by plugging in their vehicles. With Plug&Charge-enabled vehicles and infrastructure, an EV driver will simply plug the charger into the vehicle and the charging session will begin automatically. MORE

EV maker Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. announced that Hangzhou City, China, has started the construction of its first EV smart vertical parking and charging facility to advance its planned five-year goal of establishing a mini-public transportation system which will include up to 100,000 self-service rental EVs and all necessary service infrastructure throughout Hangzhou. MORE

and the Tokyo Institute of Technology are developing a smart charging system to exploit wind power produced at night to charge electric vehicles. Power companies buy windmill electricity generated during the daytime and resell it to households, factories and buildings. In order to store electricity generated at night, windmill operators need to install sodium-sulfur battery systems, which are as costly as power generators. Nikkei. Mitsubishi Corp. MORE