MAG Workshop Introduces Regional Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

PHOENIX – As part of its efforts with Nissan North America and ECOtality, Inc. to support electric vehicles in the region, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) will host a workshop on electric vehicle charge infrastructure on Thursday, December 10.

The workshop will discuss the development of an electric vehicle charge network that will support the mass introduction of electric vehicles into Arizona and other U.S. markets. Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a subsidiary of ECOtality, Inc., is partnering with Nissan North America and government agencies like MAG to deploy up to 4,700 zero-emission electric vehicles in five states, including Arizona, in a project known as the “EV Project” (for more, visit: http://theevproject.com).

The workshop will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2009, in the second floor Saguaro Room (Suite 200) at the MAG offices, 302 N. 1st Avenue, Phoenix. A demonstration of how the charge infrastructure works will take place following the workshop. To arrange coverage, contact Kelly Taft at (602) 254-6300.

“It is MAG’s goal to address environmental concerns by spearheading electric vehicle infrastructure technology in the region,” said Peggy Neely, MAG chair and Phoenix councilwoman. “This workshop will provide our member agencies with the information they need to introduce electric vehicles and implement the charge infrastructure to support them in their cities and jurisdictions.”

The workshop will highlight the growing interest, investment and development of an electric vehicle infrastructure charge network, which is necessary to support the introduction of electric vehicles into U.S. cities. Phoenix and Tucson are among the 10 initial cities where the vehicles will be introduced. The EV Project is looking to deploy the initial fleet of electric vehicles and take lessons from their introduction to support the deployment of the next 5 million electric vehicles in the U.S.

At the workshop, representatives from MAG member agencies will learn about building codes, logistics and other relevant information that is crucial to developing electric vehicle infrastructure in the region. The workshop will include representatives from Arizona State University, Salt River Project, and eTec, as well as experts from Nissan North America and the State of Oregon, who will participate via teleconference.

The proposed infrastructure will utilize 220-volt charging stations at residential and commercial locations, as well as 440-volt fast-charge stations that could be strategically located to allow vehicles to fully charge in less than 26 minutes. Both public and commercial charging systems will use standardized plugs and connectors that have been adopted by major auto manufacturers and will be compatible with all electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

“MAG is very excited to play a leadership role in cultivating an environment that is friendly to electric vehicles in the region,” Neely said. “This project is a first of its kind – a highly collaborative effort between the public and private sector to bring environmentally-friendly, economical, resource-efficient transportation across the U.S. We appreciate the vision of all our partners and look forward to working closely with our member agencies to drive this project forward.”

Published on behalf of Maricopa Association of Governments
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a Council of Governments (COG) that serves as the regional agency for the metropolitan Phoenix area. When MAG was formed in 1967, the elected officials recognized the need for long-range planning and policy development on a regional scale. They realized that many issues such as transportation, air quality and human services affected residents beyond the borders of their individual jurisdictions. For more information, visit http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/.

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