Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Licenses Aker Wade to Build Level III Fast Chargers
Posted: 01/13/2010
Chargers to be capable of energizing electric vehicle batteries in 30 minutes
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Jan. 13, 2010) -- Aker Wade Power Technologies has entered into a licensing agreement with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to manufacture and market Level III DC fast chargers for electric vehicles. The chargers will incorporate TEPCO's patented technology and be capable of charging vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i MiEV and Plug-In Stella by Subaru within less than half an hour. Aker Wade is the first U.S. manufacturer that has concluded a license agreement to use this technology. The usage of technology is free of charge, but Aker Wade also joins "CHAdeMO", an association that will start this March. The association is being founded to give drivers a sense of assurance that chargers of member manufacturers are fully compatible with electric vehicles of member OEMs.
TEPCO has been a pioneer in the implementation of electric vehicles. Since 2006 it has tested over 300 battery powered cars in the greater Tokyo area. From this experience it became convinced that fast chargers were the answer to overcome consumers concerns about the electric vehicle's limited range, a phenomenon dubbed "range anxiety." Mr. Anegawa, group manager of TEPCO's Mobility Technology Group at their Yokohama R&D Center said, "When we deployed fast chargers the vehicles were driven over 50 percent more. Drivers felt comfortable and used the full range of the vehicle."
Aker Wade CEO Bret Aker said, "TEPCO has done a great job of working with the Japanese vehicle makers to develop and promote a safe and reliable fast charging specification. We are excited to start building these chargers and deploying them worldwide." Aker Wade anticipates shipping its first TEPCO-compliant chargers in June 2010.
About Aker Wade Power Technologies
Aker Wade Power Technologies designs and manufactures advanced fast charging systems for electric vehicles and industrial forklifts. Founded in 2000, Aker Wade is the market-leading provider of fast charging technology for Fortune 1000 companies servicing markets in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Aker Wade is collaborating with battery companies, infrastructure suppliers and EV manufacturers to deliver advanced Level III fast charging solutions for the future generation of battery electric vehicles. Among the companies Aker Wade is working with are EnerSys, A123, Coulomb Technologies, and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). Aker Wade is proud to engineer and manufacture all of its products in the U.S. For additional information, please visit www.akerwade.com.
About TEPCO
Since its establishment in May 1951, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated (TEPCO), has provided high-quality, stable supplies of electricity and related services, from power generation to transmission and distribution, to meet the needs of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area, which covers an area of 39,496 km2 and a population of 43 million, the size that accounts for approximately 40 percent of the Japanese economy. In fiscal 2008, TEPCO sold 288.96 GWh of electric power with its 64.3 GW of maximum power capacity.
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