Northeast Utilities Launches Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project

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 Get Business Mobile Text Alerts: Text BIZ To 37798 Tweet(1) Topics Hybrid Vehicles Business Northeast Utilities See more topics ? X Stamford West Hartford Torrington Westport By JANICE PODSADA, jpodsada@courant.com The Hartford Courant 7:20 p.m. EDT, May 3, 2011

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Northeast Utilities said Tuesday it is launching a research project to determine how plug-in electric vehicles would impact the electric grid in Connecticut.

"By year end, we expect to have a network of more than 30 charging stations in place and generating detailed meter data," said Watson Collins, electric vehicle project manager for NU. "We'll have a robust picture of away-from-home charging levels, to study along with home-based use as more EV [electric vehicle] drivers recharge overnight."

About 20 towns and businesses served by Connecticut Light & Power, which is owned by NU, are expected to participate in the project. Among the businesses and municipalities that have already signed on to install EV charging stations are UBS in Stamford and the towns of Torrington, Westport and Mansfield. West Hartford is expected to join the project shortly. Currently, there are about 70 electric vehicles registered in the state.

"By gathering information from municipal and business customers, we can gain tangible experience to help guide future decisions about our infrastructure, our policies and how we will ultimately serve all of our customers as EVs become more common," said Jeff Butler, CL&P's president and chief operating officer.

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"It's all about understanding how EV recharging impacts the electric utility system under a variety of conditions," Collins added.

NU already has installed charging stations at company offices in Berlin and Hartford. For more information, go to http://www.plugmyride.org.