GRIDbot Canada and ERTH Form a Strategic Partnership to Address Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Challenges in B.C.

GRIDbot Canada, a Canadian manufacturer of Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with ERTH Business Technologies Inc. (ERTH) to offer improved economics to proponents of the British Columbia Community Charging Infrastructure Fund (CCIF).

Under the strategic partnership, GRIDbot will begin manufacturing a unique charging station for purchasing groups in British Columbia from its current facilities in Eastern Quebec and from a new planned facility in Metro Vancouver. The new station will be available at $4,000 for a single port and $5,500 for a dual port unit. The selected price point will allow CCIF proponents to fully benefit from the maximum $4,000 rebate per cord set available under the CCIF.

The new stations will be delivered ready to connect to the Plug-n-Ride Network developed by ERTH to process province-wide financial transactions, data management and reporting, and the recording of carbon reductions for the development of carbon credits for all electric vehicle users both individually and collectively. Stations connected to the Plug-n-Ride Network will be upgradable at a later date to fully make use of vehicle to grid (V2G) capabilities. GRIDbot is a global market leader in V2G technology with bidirectional charging stations and bidirectional chargers onboard EVs.
 
V2G will allow vehicles to optimally exchange power with the electricity grid, providing grid-storage benefits in addition to the electric vehicle (EV) transportation benefits of fuel and maintenance savings. The energy storage benefits of grid-interconnected EVs are expected to be used for local peak demand reduction and grid ancillary services. The installation of the new upgradable GRIDbot stations will allow British Columbia to be the first jurisdiction worldwide to deploy public V2G stations in support of a Smart Grid.
 
The new Level 2 stations will have a distinct colour and logo indicating their connections to the Plug-n-Ride Network and their V2G capabilities. Installation of the new stations will begin by mid-December 2012 and will be completed by March 31, 2013. GRIDbot’s new Level 3 (Fast DC Chargers) using the new global fast charging standard SAE J1772 combo-connector interface between the charger and EV, enabling power flow and communications in a single wired connection, will also be available in the early part of 2013. The SAE J1772 combo-connector standard has been endorsed by the majority of global automotive manufacturers and is expected to be available within a year on a variety of electric vehicles.
 
“We are very excited about being able to provide B.C. purchasing groups with « V2G Ready » charging stations using industry-standard hardware coupled with ERTH’s EV Ecosystem,” stated Éric Tessier, Vice President Business Development at GRIDbot International. “V2G capabilities will improve the economic viability of electric vehicles by providing low-cost grid storage that will also facilitate higher penetration of intermittent renewable energy resources.”

About GRIDbot Canada

GRIDbot is a Canadian manufacturer of home and commercial Level 2 and Level 3 EV supply equipment. GRIDbot designs, manufactures and deploys municipal, commercial and multi-residential charging infrastructures, and offers a global solution for the networking of electric vehicles as a global V2G aggregator. Its unique V2G and vehicle to home (V2H) technologies makes it a leader in this future technology.

About ERTH Business Technologies

ERTH Business Technologies Inc. is an operating subsidiary of ERTH Corporation formed in 2001 through the consolidation of SPI Group Inc., a leading provider of services to North American electricity, water and gas markets, including the development and operation of Ontario’s largest electricity clearinghouse and Ecaliber Inc., a front-line provider of business services to North American electricity markets. ERTH develops, integrates and supports infrastructure software applications in electronic business transactions for electricity and gas market participants including small and large utilities in regulated and deregulated markets, energy marketers, manufacturers and solution providers.