Chicago EV Charging Station Powered by Wind

(PhysOrg.com) -- The "Windy City" is about to make use of that natural source of power, thanks to the addition of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station. Last year, Chicago offered the first solar powered charging station, in an effort to create a situation in which the electricity being provided to plug in cars was clean. Now, Chicago offers the first wind powered EV charging station in the continental United States. (Hawaii has a wind powered EV charging station.)

The equipment is being provided by Coulomb Technologies, via its distributor Carbon Day Automotive. The wind power is actually coming from a local law firm. The law firm has a partnership with MC Squared Energy Services, and is sending some of the power to the charging station. The agreement uses energy from wind farms in Illinois. MC Squared provides clean energy to a number of commercial businesses.

Going forward, Coulomb hopes to create an entire network of rapid-charging stations that could serve as places for electric vehicle drivers to get power for their plug-ins. This would work with all-electric vehicles or with plug-in hybrids. The idea is to assuage fears that electric vehicles don't do much for the environment, since the electricity that powers them comes from fossil fuel sources. If, however, more EV charging stations offer power from clean sources, then it would enhance the overall "green-ness" of the power grid.

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