The two greatest concerns for critics of electric-vehicle deployment are system overload and plug-in charging access. Washington, D.C.-based GreenLight is hoping to alleviate the latter problem without exacerbating the former. GreenLight’s ChargeBar is a sleek charging station that can be installed in garages and storage units for easy charging of EVs and plug-in hybrids. The manufacturer plans to produce its first round of ChargeBar units by August 2009 with distribution to consumers by spring 2010.

The GreenLight ChargeBar will be capable of handling 110-volt and 240-volt outlets, covering a majority of the plug-ins and EVs projected to hit the market. The ChargeBar may not be able to work with 480-volt “quick charge” outlets but few automakers are using this standard at this point. GreenLight representatives have stated that the ChargeBar could recharge vehicles within eight hours for 110-volt outlets and four hours for 240-volt outlets. GreenLight is currently testing the ChargeBar for the final time to verify these projections and ensure product quality before production.

GreenLight faces two major obstacles before the ChargeBar can be widely distributed. The first issue is the $3,200 price tag for the ChargeBar announced recently by GreenLight. The ChargeBar is being marketed to families, small businesses and non-profits instead of public institutions to enable charging away from work. While the ChargeBar may qualify for state-level tax credits for green technology, the upfront cost may be too much for most consumers.

The larger problem for GreenLight’s ChargeBar is the lack of a billing function to keep track of energy used during charging. GreenLight may be filling a niche in terms of EV charging technology but this niche exists because of the substantial infrastructure and electronic communication needed for public charging. The collaboration between governments, universities and utility companies on EV charging networks is necessary due to infrastructure needs. GreenLight is hoping that businesses and non-profits will eat the expense of patron charging as a perk rather than charging their customers per kilowatt hour.

The first round of GreenLight ChargeBars to hit the market will dictate whether it is a novelty or a technology with staying power. If the ChargeBar can live up to its technical specifications, GreenLight can spend capital on billing technology and other features while decreasing costs. The ChargeBar will fall into the has-beens category with Betamax and troll dolls if the current lack of pre-orders continues into 2010.

Reprinted with permission from HybridMile