Solving the infrastructure problem

The future is electric. Or at least many believe it is minus the one glaring problem facing electric vehicles: infrastructure.

More and more companies are building electric cars. Nissan has released a preview of their as-yet unnamed model, one based on their Versa in appearance. But on the inside, it’s all about the battery, baby.

Nissan also has electric models of their Cube. While neither model is available to consumers just yet, product planner Mark Perry says “This is not a test or demonstration…we’re ready for mass production.” They plan on having the car available in 2012. Hopefully, in that three-year gap, the infrastructure needed will be built. It would be a shame to have electric cars driving around with nowhere to plug them in, or for no one to buy them because there is no infrastructure.

Luckily, some universities are looking for solutions.

In Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology brought in a UK company to install 150 Elektrobay charging stations in September. All Elektromotive’s charging bays are allocated to the 150 EV car fleet for staff and students to use around the campus. A feasibility test, so to speak, on a small scale.

Closer to home, electrical engineers at the University of Calgary are looking at plug-in hybrids to determine the feasibility of storing electricity directly from the power grid. They hope to develop a smart-charging system that would specifically make use of energy generated from wind power.

Nissan wants to help too; and why wouldn’t they? The Renault-Nissan Alliance is signing deals left and right to set up charging networks all over the world. Because they’re smart enough to know convenience is key to keeping customers happy.