ECOtality Brings Blink Residential Charging Station Installations to Tucson

TUCSON, AZ--March 23, 2011: ECOtality, Inc. , a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, expanded the installation of the company's flagship Blink Level 2 Residential Charging Station at residences to Tucson, Ariz. As project manager of The EV Project, the largest rollout of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and EVs in history, the company will install Blink home EV chargers in homes throughout project regions nationwide to support the launch of 8,300 EVs. Today's residential installation launch event in Tucson demonstrated the continued growth of ECOtality's rich charging infrastructure, as well as the culmination of nearly two years of EV Project planning.

“Working with our Clean Cities Coalition Members and ECOtality, PAG's Clean Cities Program is excited to begin the residential installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, here in Tucson, to help secure America's energy independence for our future.”

"Tucson is an important city in one of our key project markets, we are thrilled that residential Blink chargers are officially being installed in garages throughout the city," said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. "This further signifies ECOtality's commitment towards building a comprehensive infrastructure for EVs across the country."

This event, hosted at Tucson's El Presidio Park, showcased a Nissan LEAF, and the Blink Residential Charging Station from Tucson resident, Doug Mance. As part of The EV Project, the largest rollout of EV infrastructure in history, ECOtality will monitor the energy usage and output of charging stations to determine a viable method for mass adoption of electric vehicles and empower the smart grid.

This presentation and installation is a continuation of the Blink residential charger installations ECOtality started in January. Looking forward, ECOtality will announce commercial installation launches over the next few weeks. The upcoming installations of Blink commercial products will include the Blink Level 2 Pedestal Charger and the Blink DC Fast Charger. Both chargers are suitable for public, fleet and commercial use, and will be found at various public and project partner locations including retail locations, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores, places of business and employment centers.

"Pima Association of Governments (PAG) Tucson Regional Clean Cities Coalition is proud to be a part of the largest deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure in the nation's history," stated Colleen Crowninshield, manager of the Clean Cities Coalition at PAG. "Working with our Clean Cities Coalition Members and ECOtality, PAG's Clean Cities Program is excited to begin the residential installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, here in Tucson, to help secure America's energy independence for our future."

The Blink Home Charging Stations are available now to EV drivers and are free of charge to EV Project participants. The Blink Home Charger is a smart EV charging station that allows for increased cost-savings through improved power management, an intuitive set of features, including a 7-inch color touchscreen control panel, and a stylish, easily configurable design. The units can be installed indoors or outside at commercial locations, and both hardwire and plug-in charging stations are available. For more information, including product spec sheets, please visit Blink Network.

ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project, and will oversee the installation of commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas throughout six states and the District of Columbia. The project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8 million made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The grants are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to approximately $230 million.