smartUSA names Coulomb preferred charging station supplier

It may not have a starring role alongside the latest electrics from Renault at the Frankfort Motor Show this week like its bigger Better Place competitor, but Coulomb Technologies with its ChargePoint Network is happy to inform the world it's getting a good dose of Teutonic love itself, thank you very much. The company, which has taken to calling itself "the leader in networked charging station infrastructure," has just be named by smartUSA as its preferred supplier of charging stations for its Mercedes-made minicar and will be distributing the equipment through the smart dealer network. It seems as if the original decision to name the charging post a "smartlet" is paying off.

In practical terms, it's hard to say when this affair will really bloom. Although the smart ed (electric drive) is heading for production next month, American arrivals won't likely begin for certain leasing customers until next year and only become widely available for sale in 2012. Still, it's probably never too early to start forming strategic alliances in the emerging electric segment. Look past the break for the official press release.


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[Source: Coulomb Technologies]



PRESS RELEASE:

ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations to be Used for Public and Home Charging

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(Business Wire)-- Coulomb Technologies, the leader in networked charging station infrastructure, today announced that smart USA has selected Coulomb Technologies as its preferred supplier of charging stations for the company`s smart fortwo electric drive vehicles. Coulomb`s ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for plug-in electric vehicles will be sold through the smart USA dealer network for business, consumer and home charging. As smart USA establishes the sales of its electric drive vehicles, Coulomb will provide charging stations and charge management software, and Coulomb's network of distributors will handle installation, service and warranty coverage.

"smart USA is demonstrating their commitment to reducing emissions and dependency on foreign oil with the introduction of their electric drive smart fortwo," said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies. "We are proud to say that our partnership with smart USA will provide their car buyers with home and public charging capabilities including energy cost optimization, web and smartphone-based charging management services, and high availability through remote monitoring. The adoption of advanced public and home infrastructure is essential for the launch of these electric vehicles."

Coulomb`s stations offer an easy and safe charging system to smart fortwo owners while also providing essential technology such as Smart Grid integration for utility load management with future V2G capabilities.

Coulomb Technologies` charging stations are used in homes, municipalities, office buildings and parking garages to allow consumers to charge their electric vehicles wherever they live, work and shop. Consumers subscribe to the ChargePoint® Network and receive a ChargePoint Smart Card that allows them to charge their car at any charging station worldwide. To locate available charging stations, visit www.mychargepoint.net and click "Find Stations".

ABOUT the smart fortwo and smart USA

smart USA Distributor LLC, headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo in the United States and Puerto Rico and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. The smart fortwo is a brand of and is manufactured by Daimler AG. The company is planning a 2010 entry into the USA market with its smart fortwo electric drive vehicle featuring Lithium Ion battery technology. The vehicle is 8.8 feet long, 5.1 feet tall and 5.1 feet wide and comes equipped with many functional and safety features found in most luxury models. smart is currently sold in over 40 countries, and more than one million smart fortwos have been sold since 1998. For more information visit the smart USA website - www.smartusa.com.

smart and fortwo are registered trademarks of Daimler AG.

About Coulomb Technologies, Inc.

Coulomb Technologies headquartered in Campbell, Calif., offers a family of products and services that provide a plug-in vehicle charging infrastructure, which includes ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations ranging in capability from 120V 16A to 240V 80A AC charging to future 120kW DC charging. Coulomb applies networking technology to the challenge of charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in order to fuel the electric transportation industry. Coulomb's ChargePoint Network www.mychargepoint.net addresses the needs of drivers, utilities, governments, and parking space owners. Follow Coulomb on Twitter at twitter.com/coulombevi.




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