Google Teams Up with U.S. Government for Electric Vehicle Efforts

 
??(Source: media.tecca.com)The Obama administration will work with Google to put electric vehicle stations on Google Maps, and will also award $5 million for community-based efforts to expand electric vehicle adoption

Google has made several environmentally friendly commitments lately. For instance, the web giant?invested $168 million in the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System?in the Mojave Desert in California, and just invested another?$100 million in the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm?in Arlington, Oregon. Google has also played a role in the adoption of electric vehicles through programs like?RechargeIT.?

Early last month, Google even?added electric vehicle charging stations?to Google Maps in an effort to make electric vehicle ownership more convenient.?

Now, President Barack Obama is looking to put 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015, and to cut oil imports by one-third by 2025. To reach this goal, the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory?is partnering with Google to provide "up-to-date information about electric vehicle charging stations in communities worldwide." This initiative will build upon the efforts that Google kicked off in March with Google Maps.?

“Through this collaboration, key players from the electric vehicle and online mapping industries are coming together to ensure a consistent source of charging station location data that will allow consumers to find every charging station throughout the country,” said NREL Project Manager Witt Sparks.

“Google is excited to be part of the GeoEVSE Forum and to share EVSE location data with users through Google Maps,” added Cynthia Yeung of Google’s Strategic Partnerships team. “We’re proud to help give drivers the power to plug in.”

The Obama administration's second effort is to award $5 million in funding for "community-based efforts" to expand electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure. Local governments and private companies will join forces to apply for funding to push for increased installation of electric vehicle charging stations in order to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.?

In addition, communities will create strategies and incentive programs to improve the electric vehicle experience.?

"Young lady, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!" -- Homer Simpson
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