Electric Car Owners Share The Power
What if there was an easy outlet for electric car lovers to share power with another individual’s vehicle? This global electricity idea is about to become a reality. Xatori, a Silicon Valley software start-up, hopes to create networks of electric car enthusiasts, sort of like a green Facebook. These green car lovers will provide charging points, via their household power outlets, to other drivers in need of juice and not close to public-charge stations.
Xatori released their “PlugShare” iPhone app, which allows drivers and outlet owners to find each others’ location. Drivers simply punch in their destination to see the availability of outlets and public charging stations along the way. Those who share electricity indicate the type of outlet or charger they have, how to gain access, and a preferred method of contact.
“We want to break down that barrier in people’s minds about where it’s acceptable to charge,” said Armen Petrosian, Xatori’s co-founder and chief technology officer. “We think the infrastructure to charge is everywhere. I think a big positive of using the app is that you get to connect with other E.V. owners.”
“People who don’t own an electric car can be part of the electric vehicle revolution,” said Forrest North, Xatori’s chief executive and founder of Mission Motors, a start-up that is developing an electric motorcycle.
Xatori’s founders, who believe that most people will share their standard 110-volt household outlets. In the San Francisco Bay Area, it will cost on average about 15 cents an hour to charge an electric car.
“This is more like a backup network, like A.A.A.,” added Mr. Petrosian, “Most of the time you’ll drive on energy from your own house. If you miscalculate, you can rely on the community.”
Source: NY Times
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