EU To Ban CHAdeMO EV Chargers By 2018
The European Parliament is drafting a bill to do away with CHAdeMO in favor of the SAE’s CSS “universal” ev charger. This news comes in spite of the fact that there are more than 2500 CHAdeMO EV chargers in place worldwide, and the fact that the most popular EVs in Europe are from Nissan/Renault and Mitsubishi, which both use the CHAdeMO connector. Here’s more on that story in an article that originally appeared on Gas 2.
Despite having more 2500 charging stations on-line for active duty, it looks like CHAdeMO electric car chargers are on their way out. That is, if the rumors currently circulating about the EU’s parliamentary proceedings in re. electric cars are to be believed. The CHAdeMO Association, for what it’s worth, is taking these rumors very seriously, and issued the following statement:
The European Parliament prepares a draft that suggests to terminate CHAdeMO in Europe at the end of 2018, because “the Combo technology is not fully ready at the moment and as there are more than 650 CHAdeMO chargers already installed in Europe, with more than 1,000 to be deployed by the end of 2013 (Amendment 70 on Page 45).” CHAdeMO Association is very surprised to learn of this suggestion.
The CHAdeMO standard, according to the EU motion, is to be phased out by 2018 in favor of the SAE’s proposed “standard”, the CSS charger. On the CSS’ “pro” column are the blessings of BMW/Mini, GM, Ford, and other automakers. For now, though, the CCS does not exist in Europe, and Mark Kane from Inside EVs points out that the most popular EV on the market, Nissan’s LEAF, uses CHAdeMO. “Will it be wise to force the adoption of a standard that’s only found on a few upcoming, lower volume vehicles like the BMW i3 or VW e-up?” he asks.
Despite the fact that Kane didn’t ask me, I’ll answer: absolutely!
As someone who remembers the horror of the early Firewire connectors, Apple’s proprietary “ADC” monitor ports, and other printer-based plug nonsense, let me assure you that life is better on USB … and life, for EV owners, will be better with standard electric car chargers. If anther standard has to die to make room for the one that would be king, then so be it.
Sources: Inside EVs, via Motorpasion, Green Car Reports.
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