Eaton to supply EV charging stations to federal EV Pilot Program
13 June 2012
Eaton Corporation announced a collaborative agreement to supply federal departments and agencies with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and related installation and services equipment, through a US General Services Administration (GSA) contract awarded to Autoflex, Inc. The contract is an element of the federal government’s Electric Vehicle Pilot Program, a GSA initiative launched in 2011 (earlier post) to incorporate EVs and charging infrastructure into federal vehicle and building portfolios.
The core EV Pilot Program consisted of the following:
116 plug-in electric vehicles will be leased to 20 agencies, including the departments of Energy, the Navy, and the Treasury.
The vehicles will be in five cities: Washington; Detroit; and Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, Calif.
GSA will work with agencies to install charging infrastructure in federal buildings in the five pilot cities.
The pilot will integrate electric vehicle technology and charging infrastructure into the federal fleet and federal buildings to the best ways to use the technology in the federal fleet.
The 116 electric plug-in vehicles being deployed in the pilot are expected to annually save almost 29,000 gallons of gas, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 257 metric tons, and save taxpayers almost $116,000 in fuel costs.
To prepare for program expansion, Eaton and veteran-owned AutoFlex engaged with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Community College of Baltimore County to create VETCARS, a pilot training and occupational program instructing veterans how to install and service EV charging infrastructure, as well as earn a certificate to maintain new advanced battery technology. The program will also help provide employment for deserving veterans.
Autoflex, Inc. is a fleet industry service for transportation, energy and environmental projects, and pioneer in the market development of alternative fueled vehicles. The pilot program is designed to advance plans to cut government petroleum consumption by 30% and supports an executive order for the US to procure one million EVs by 2015.
With more than 60 charging stations already successfully delivered, the Electric Vehicle Pilot Program is expanding beyond the original five test cities: Washington; Detroit; and Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, Calif.
Eaton offers a full line of charging solutions including an AC Level 1, a Residential AC Level 2, a Commercial/Fleet AC Level 2, and a 50 kilowatt (kW) DC Quick Charger complemented by an EV Simulator for testing after installation and options for payment, access control and network management for commercial/fleet applications.
Eaton has more than 3,000 charging stations already shipped or installed in North America.
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