evnow
Well-known member
This is what I learnt talking to a few folks who should know.
Ecotality submitted the proposal to DOE for EV Project along with Coulomb and used Coulomb's EVSE for demos etc. But DOE, when awarding the contract, didn't include Coulomb. Ecotality saw an opening there to "make" more money - they completely excluded Coulomb & started on an EVSE design themselfs. We all know how well that has turned out to be.
The way Ecotality is trying to install EVSE's in business locations is very different from the way Coulomb operates. I think this is the reason why Coulomb has been more successful in putting up chargers compared to Ecotality, even though Blink chargers are free under the EV Project.
Coulomb sells the EVSEs. The business will own and operate the EVSE, setting prices as they see fit. Coulomb will still operate the networking and gets a transaction fee (much like credit card companies operate).
Ecotality installs the EVSEs in business premises - but owns the EVSE. They will pay the business for electricity - but decide on the pricing structure and any profits they can make. You can now see why businesses would be reluctant to sign on to this kind of deal.
Finally, I looked at the financial statements of ecotality. They are bleeding money and have cash flow problems (http://www.ecotality.com/investors/index.php?qm_page=3697" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false. I think the best hope for us now is if someone acquires Ecotality and executes the EV Project well from now on, now that Ecotality has become a penny stock. Blink has been issueing stock just to stay afloat.
Ecotality submitted the proposal to DOE for EV Project along with Coulomb and used Coulomb's EVSE for demos etc. But DOE, when awarding the contract, didn't include Coulomb. Ecotality saw an opening there to "make" more money - they completely excluded Coulomb & started on an EVSE design themselfs. We all know how well that has turned out to be.
The way Ecotality is trying to install EVSE's in business locations is very different from the way Coulomb operates. I think this is the reason why Coulomb has been more successful in putting up chargers compared to Ecotality, even though Blink chargers are free under the EV Project.
Coulomb sells the EVSEs. The business will own and operate the EVSE, setting prices as they see fit. Coulomb will still operate the networking and gets a transaction fee (much like credit card companies operate).
Ecotality installs the EVSEs in business premises - but owns the EVSE. They will pay the business for electricity - but decide on the pricing structure and any profits they can make. You can now see why businesses would be reluctant to sign on to this kind of deal.
Finally, I looked at the financial statements of ecotality. They are bleeding money and have cash flow problems (http://www.ecotality.com/investors/index.php?qm_page=3697" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false. I think the best hope for us now is if someone acquires Ecotality and executes the EV Project well from now on, now that Ecotality has become a penny stock. Blink has been issueing stock just to stay afloat.