ECOtality And Sprint To Connect Blink EV Charging Stations

Electric vehicles are on a pathway to success so far as we can tell. They'll obviously face a lot of challenges to start, as with any brand new technology. But the industry backing is there, and the hype is too. The one that is really needed to kick things into high-gear is a strong infrastructure. If consumers know that they can recharge their electric vehicles as easily as they can refuel their current gasoline-powered automobiles, there's an even better chance for these kinds of cars to really take off.


ECOtality is an up and coming name in the electric automobile space, mostly for their work in transportation and storage technologies. In simpler terms, they make EV charging stations, and they're working to get them in as many places as possible in order to give EV drivers more options when it comes time to recharge. In a crazy twist of events, this very company has partnered with Sprint in order to ensure connectivity on their Blink EV charging stations. The company plans to utilize Sprint's Command Center to control Machine-to-Machine (M2M) provisioning, billing, device, service management, and to run the Blink Network.

It's a little wild to think that always-on connectivity would be necessary to run EV charging stations, but when throw billing into the mix, it all starts to make a little more sense. ECOtality will install the company’s Blink electric vehicle charging stations across the country, and will install nearly 15,000 Level 2 chargers at residential and commercial locations, and over 300 DC Fast Charging ports at public and commercial sites now, and throughout 2011. Through ECOtality’s new partnership, Sprint will provide the wireless network that will allow ECOtality to monitor and manage the Blink Network, an infrastructure of electric vehicle chargers across the United States, for use by consumers as well as commercial hosts.  In addition, the Blink Network will prove access to a web-portal containing a wealth of information about consumer’s electric vehicles, and charging habits.

Cellphones, EV chargers...the world really is growing one step closer to being completely connected.

Sprint Command Center Connects ECOtality's Blink Network

ECOtality’s Nationwide Blink Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Secure Connectivity and Network Capabilities with Sprint’s M2M Solution

SAN FRANCISCO – January 14, 2011 – ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies with a full range of products for charging electric vehicles (EV), has partnered with Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) to ensure connectivity on the Company’s Blink™ electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to guarantee customer satisfaction. ECOtality will utilize the Sprint Command Center, across its nationwide system of residential, commercial, and public charging stations to control Machine-to-Machine (M2M) provisioning, billing, device, service management, and to run the Blink Network.

“We will continue to partner with leading, innovative companies like Sprint,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. “With the Sprint Command Center technology, our Blink EV charging stations are provided with the reliable wireless connectivity necessary to power the advanced capabilities of the Blink Network and ensure customer satisfaction. In addition, we are able to conduct a variety of business services, from monitoring to electronic payments. EV drivers will be able to depend on our chargers for smart operation, intuitive features, and reliable connectivity.”

ECOtality's Commercial EV Charging Stations will conduct a variety of business services, utilizing the Sprint Command Center, including; monitoring, electronic payments, and displaying digital content for advertising and information.

ECOtality's Commercial EV Charging Stations will conduct a variety of business services, utilizing the Sprint Command Center, including; monitoring, electronic payments, and displaying digital content for advertising and information.

ECOtality will install the company’s Blink electric vehicle charging stations across the country, and will install nearly 15,000 Level 2 chargers at residential and commercial locations, and over 300 DC Fast Charging ports at public and commercial sites now, and throughout 2011. Through ECOtality’s new partnership, Sprint will provide the wireless network that will allow ECOtality to monitor and manage the Blink Network, an infrastructure of electric vehicle chargers across the United States, for use by consumers as well as commercial hosts.  In addition, the Blink Network will prove access to a web-portal containing a wealth of information about consumer’s electric vehicles, and charging habits.

“Sprint is proud to provide advanced wireless network services that will allow ECOtality to monitor and manage their Blink Network,” said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint. “In addition, our wireless data network will help process a variety of electronic payments and deliver digital content for advertising and information.”

The Blink Network is accessible from any Blink charging station, over the internet, and on your Smartphone. Additionally, because every Blink charging station is capable of communicating through a variety of methods, information is also available by wireless cellular, LAN/Ethernet, and Zigbee SEP 1.0 capable devices. From within the Blink Network, consumers will be able to locate Blink charging stations complete with GPS navigation, check charging station availability, and receive notifications of charge interruption and completion.