Worried about finding a compatible recharging point for your electric car? Fear not - seven vehicle manufacturers have agreed to adopt a standardised charging system in Europe and the US. Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have all signed up to the scheme.
It is a move that should make it easier to build up an electric charging infrastructure and reduce manufacturing costs. It is also good for consumers who won't have to deal with multiple charging adaptors - a situation that has frustrated cellphone owners for years but will finally be remedied next year with the adoption of a standard connection for all cellphones. Existing electric car owners won't be left out either, as the new standard is backwards-compatible with older vehicles.
The seven manufacturers have also agreed to use a universal protocol, HomePlug Green Phy, to communicate between the car and charging station. This will make it possible to integrate electric vehicles with smart grids in the future, allowing drivers to connect with their cars through smartphone apps and energy companies to store excess electricity in your car battery.
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/10/green-machine-electric-vehicle.html#more
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