Electric Drive Industry Sets Sales Record in May

The summer kicked off with record sales for electric drive in May as automakers posted their highest numbers for plug-in and battery electric vehicles since market roll-out. Sales of plug-in vehicles reached 12,453 last month, including 5,802 battery electric vehicles and 6,651 plug-in hybrids.

Meanwhile, 52,227 hybrids moved off of lots in May, the second highest month on record.

The total number of plug-in vehicles sold in the U.S. since market roll-out is now at 211,097, more than double the number at this time last year.

These positive trends are all detailed in our electric drive market snapshot below.  This information, as well as historical sales data on the electric drive market, can be found at  www.electricdrive.org/sales.

 

SemaConnect will be exhibiting at the 2014 Every Building Conference & Expo

The SemaConnect Team will be exhibiting at the 2014 BOMA International and Buildings event on June 22 - 24, 2014. Visit us at booth # 1141!

Inside “SemaConnect for Glass” – A New EV Charging Stations App for Google Glass

Image CC licensed by: lawrencegs

While the idea of wearing an interactive computer equipped with a head-mounted display may seem like something out of a sci-fi thriller, it is now a reality for a small number of Google Glass users. 

Indeed, if you’ve been following developments in the tech industry, you will notice that Google’s latest foray into wearable technology has been causing quite a stir. With a tiny, heads-up display located at the corner of the user’s vision, Glass purports to be one of the world’s first truly-ubiquitous smart computers on the market.

Here at SemaConnect, we’re always looking for new ways to harness the power of innovative technology to improve the EV driving experience. So when we noticed Google Glass making inroads in the tech world, we immediately began thinking of practical ways to utilize wearable technology to help EV drivers.

The result is the new “SemaConnect for Glasss” app, and we feel it offers some exciting opportunities to enhance the EV driving experience.

What is Google Glass?

Since Google Glass is quite new, many people are still unsure exactly how it works. Basically, Google Glass is worn just like a pair of glasses except that there is a tiny screen on the side which emulates viewing a 26” HD TV from eight feet away. Interaction with the device is carried out through the tiny screen, which can send phone calls and texts, show the weather and time, check emails, take pictures and video, and display maps. The user communicates with the interface by saying “Ok Glass…” and then giving a command.

While the idea of wearable technology is still brand new, response to Google Glass has generally been positive. Although there may still be a few kinks to work out, devices like Glass could just be on the brink of a new technological transformation. 

What can “SemaConnect for Glass” do for Google Glass users?

Harnessing the power of wearable technology is a logical extension of the EV driving experience. 

The number of charging stations is increasing every day, and the growing number of EV drivers will continue to need places to charge their cars. One thing our app can do is display a list of nearby charging stations and allow users to view where that location is on the map.

Imagine being able to say “Ok Glass… where is the closest EV charging station?” and then being able to visualize the location of that charging station right in your field of vision. It will streamline the process of locating a place to charge your car, and allow you to determine exactly which station will best suit your needs.

This feature will be particularly helpful when you are on a long EV trip or are in an unfamiliar place. 

Our turn-by-turn navigation feature will take you exactly to your charging station, thus removing the stress out of finding a charging station when you’re far from home. When you finally arrive at the charging station, you will also be able to initiate a charging session right from the Glass interface.

Ultimately, the Google Glass market is still relatively small and it will likely be a few years before the technology truly becomes mainstream. But we’re excited with where wearable technology is headed and how it can enhance the EV driving experience

Stay tuned for the release date of SemaConnect for Glass, as it will be available for download through the MyGlass app once it passes review in the Apple and Android stores. 

 Joseph Tohill is a freelance writer and online communications specialist for organizations in the sustainability sector. He has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Columbia and spent most of his academic career studying sustainable urban development; namely the interdisciplinary relationship between built form and natural environment.

New Cable Management System Makes the EV Charging Process Hassle-Free

Image CC licensed by Parker Knight

There are lots of things that are awesome about being an EV driver. You can silently scoot around in a sleekly designed vehicle that emits no pollution, park in charging-equipped stalls at the mall, and refuel your car for the same price as a grande vanilla latte from your favorite coffee chain. However, if there was one slight drawback with driving an EV, it might be having to fold up and return the cord to its docking station after charging your car.  

Now admittedly, this is just a minor annoyance.

Yes the cord can be heavy, awkward, and a bit of a chore to put back in place. However, it probably ranks fairly low on your list of tiny frustrations in life – one of those things you just accept about driving around in an EV.

However, here at SemaConnect we’re dedicated to making the EV driving experience as seamless and hassle-free as possible. As a result, we’ve been hard at work devising a new cable management system to make charging an EV less of a chore. Our new charging stations will allow drivers to extend the cord to exactly the right length to charge their car. When finished, the driver simply has to return the head to the station, and the cord will automatically retract and loop itself.

It’s easy, clean, and completely frustration free.

We’re excited about this new system because it will actually benefit a lot of different types of people.

First of all, it will benefit EV drivers. No longer will you have to think about how to properly roll up the cord to stow it away. You also won’t have to get your hands dirty by physically trying to loop the cord onto the charging station. Our cable management system will take care of all of this for you.

It also means that you won’t arrive at a charging station to a pile of tangled up charging cords. Granted most EV drivers are pretty good about putting the cord away. However, there is a small percentage of users that are in a hurry or absent-minded, and they simply don’t put the cord away properly.

Retailers or property managers will also be happy that the cords will look cleaner and more organized. Many charging stations are located in prime locations near entrances of stores, and ensuring the cords remain unobtrusive makes the whole property look more organized.

Finally, the new cable management system will benefit non-EV drivers who happen to be walking by a charging station. No one wants to step over a cord that is hanging over onto the sidewalk. Not only does it look disorganized, you might accidentally step on it!

Ultimately, having a cable management system for charging stations is the next step forward in EV convenience. EVs have been on the market for several years now and an increasing number of them are hitting the streets every day. While exciting innovations are being made on the technological side as we speak, it is also time to look at how to make the charging experience as convenient and easy as possible. 

 Joseph Tohill is a freelance writer and online communications specialist for organizations in the sustainability sector. He has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Columbia and spent most of his academic career studying sustainable urban development; namely the interdisciplinary relationship between built form and natural environment.

Reflecting on 2013...

To kick off 2014 we reflect on 2013 and all the accomplishments we’ve made.

The Tesla Model S being named the 2013 Motor Trend car of the year is proof that 2013 was a great year for electric vehicles. And since the industry is growing so rapidly it makes sense that there would be a greater need for a larger charging infrastructure.

One of our most exciting developments has been the growth of our SemaConnect employees. Several new members have joined our team this year, both in the Maryland office and on our national sales team. We have increased our geographic expansion to also include Canada, Hawaii & the Caribbean.

In the beginning of December, we had our annual holiday party that tied into our National Sales Meeting. Our team continues to grow as we expand and continue our movement as a top tier company in the EV industry.

40% of our team now drive EV’s! We have the whole array from Volt, Leaf, Fusion & more.

We partnered with Recargo who has a mobile app called ‘PlugShare’. The partnership is called ‘Pay with Plugshare’ and it allows you to start charging sessions from SemaConnect charging stations straight from the PlugShare app. We’ve focused on developing easy methods to start charging sessions. If you haven’t downloaded the PlugShare app and you are an EV driver, you should definitely do that immediately.

In the fall of 2013 USGBC instituted new guidelines for charging stations stating that they need to be networked for installers to receive LEED points. Our ChargePro charging stations come bundled with SemaCharge, our web based management software. Having a networked charging station makes it easy and convenient to manage and use a charging station.

Thank you to all of our loyal readers for following along with us on our journey! We greatly appreciate your continued support and we look forward to providing you the best electric vehicle charging experience in 2014!

Amber Perry is a Marketing Specialist at SemaConnect. She graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies from Towson University. Amber handles the SemaConnect blog, supports Public Relations efforts and helps build the overall brand. As a new EV convert, Amber reports with a truly fresh perspective. Learn and grow with her! She can be reached at amber.perry@semaconnect.com.

Charging into 2014!

Hi everyone! It's a brand new year - 2014! It's going to be a great year and I'm so pleased to have you all along for the ride. I want to keep you guys posted with SemaConnect news and provide some insider information as we get back into the swing of things.

I was here for the few days in between Christmas and New Year's when most everyone else had taken off until January 2nd and it felt really lonely and strange without all the usual faces I see every day.

Now the office is starting to feel like there's life in it again, as everyone filters back in from their holiday vacations. You can hear the buzz of conversation as we get back into the swing of having weekly meetings and business as usual.

We are kicking off the New Year by identifying our personal goals as well as our bigger company goals. In a staff meeting this week, our team reflected on the growth of SemaConnect. We discussed how the things each of us do every day bring us closer to our big picture.

As for the girls in the Marketing department, we've been setting ourselves up for success by getting ourselves organized and coming up with a strategy for 2014.

Here's to a fresh start in 2014 and productive and prosperous New Year!


Image Source

Amber Perry is a Marketing Specialist at SemaConnect. She graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies from Towson University. Amber handles the SemaConnect blog, supports Public Relations efforts and helps build the overall brand. As a new EV convert, Amber reports with a truly fresh perspective. Learn and grow with her! She can be reached at amber.perry@semaconnect.com.

We've Partnered with PlugShare!

We're so excited to announce our Pay with PlugShare option for Electric Vehicle Drivers!  Check out these awesome screen shots from the app!

DC Auto Show - Behind the Scenes

Guess what?

The DC Auto Show is back, and we're bringing you behind the scenes photos!

The Electric Super Highway section has doubled this year -- I'm so excited!  I could hardly carry the station all the way to our spot with all the new shiny EVs pulling into their places (yes, I can carry the ChargePro - and in my heels!).

Stay tuned, I will be shooting a short video from the event covering all the new EVs at the show!

Also, our blog is currently getting a jolt - look and content wise.  We'll be bringing you more journalistic articles and blog posts about EV Charging and the charging landscape.  Don't forget to sign up for our EV newsletter (to the left).  We'll be pushing out special deals, promotions and exclusive articles for our readers.

Thanks again for all of your support!


N.

Field trip to the DC Auto Show -- Whoot!

(Safety First)

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Happy Charging!

St. John Properties Installs EV Charging Stations!

Pictured left to right Mahi Reddy, CEO and Founder of SemaConnect; Jerry Wit, Senior Vice President of St. John Properties and Justin Schaub, Director of Sustainability for St. John Properties.

ST. JOHN PROPERTIES UNVEILS SEMACONNECT ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING STATIONS AT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND MAPLE LAWN

Effort Supports Maryland EV Infrastructure Program

ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 13, 2011 – St. John Properties, Inc., one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s largest privately-held commercial real estate firms, and SemaConnect, a leading developer and producer of smart networked electric vehicle charging stations and sophisticated electric vehicle (EV) station software, today unveiled several ChargePro EV charging stations at two of its business parks: St. John Properties’ corporate headquarters in Baltimore County, and Maple Lawn, a Class “A” business community in Howard County. An event will be held at St. John Properties’ headquarters (2560 Lord Baltimore Drive, Baltimore MD 21244) on December 14 at 10:00am.

“Through Maryland’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program we’ve built a complete network of charging stations,” said Mahi Reddy, CEO of SemaConnect. “Companies such as St. John Properties make it possible for us to continue building this EV charging network in Maryland and bring Maryland to the forefront as one of the most sustainable states on the East Coast.”

The Maryland Energy Administration allocated approximately $600,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to aid the development and integration of electric transportation into Maryland’s transportation system. The investment resulted in the construction of 65 charging stations throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, providing the necessary infrastructure to allow electric vehicle owners to travel throughout the region. The Baltimore-Washington Electric Vehicle Initiative (BEVI) in partnership with SemaConnect is developing 55 electric charging stations.

“We are constantly looking for creative ways to incorporate sustainable products and techniques into everyday living, and we view the use of electrically-powered transportation as a rapidly emerging trend in the United States,” stated Jerry Wit, Senior Vice President, Marketing for St. John Properties. “Our employees and tenants, as well as visitors to our office buildings, now have the opportunity to recharge their electric charge batteries in a safe and trouble-free manner.” 

The need for convenient, public charging is quickly emerging as most major automakers are producing electric cars, or intend to in the near future. The early focus on EV infrastructure has been focused on installing charging equipment in homes and municipal garages. However, many commercial locations lack public charging.

St. John’s Maple Lawn includes three multi-story Class "A" offices buildings totaling over 285,000 square feet of space, with a fourth multi-story (100,000 square feet) due for delivery in Q4 2011. These top-notch properties feature attractive lobby environments and state-of-the-art mechanical and energy managements systems. The office buildings enjoy easy access to the region’s extensive transportation network, low-cost fitness center access, nearby childcare and a full range of dining, shopping and personal services within walking distance, making it the perfect location for EV charging stations.

The ChargePro 620 is Level II (240VAC, 30Amps) and can recharge a Volt vehicle in three to four hours and a 100% electric Nissan Leaf car in approximately six to seven hours. It comes with a J1772 plug that enables all new electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to recharge, made possible through the initiatives at the Society of Automotive Engineers. Specifically designed for commercial-grade applications, SemaConnect’s ChargePro Charging Station is an intelligent, network-based EV charging system with features such as:

·         Smart Card authentication – for open or restricted access.

·         Smart Grid Integration – for easy energy metering and demand response.

·         Automatic billing/payment system – for easy revenue generation.

·         Sustainability Reporting–easily report your electricity usage and fossil fuel offset.

About St. John Properties

St. John Properties, Inc., founded in 1971 as MIE Properties, owns and has developed more than 15 million square feet of R&D/flex, office, retail and warehouse space in Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.

About SemaConnect, Inc.

SemaConnect is a leading provider of electric vehicle charging stations and sophisticated software for station owners and electric vehicle drivers. Our ChargePro Charging Stations utilize CDMA and Zigbee Wireless technology and offer advanced features such as smart-grid integration, RFID card authentication, sustainability reporting and more. To purchase your charging station, contact us at (410) 384 – 4223, or visit www.SemaConnect.com. Follow us on Twitter @Sema_Connect and learn more about EV infrastructure on our YouTube Channel, SemaConnect.

Media Contact for St. John Properties:

Al Cunniff

acunniff@sjpi.com
Phone: 410-369-1277

Media Contact for SemaConnect:

Naly Yang

naly.yang@semaconnect.com

Phone: 410-384-4223