ECOtality

About ECOtality

ECOtality, Inc. was a company focused on electric transportation and energy storage technologies. The company's history can be traced back to the incorporation of Alchemy Enterprises, Ltd. in 1999, which officially changed its name to ECOtality, Inc. in 2006 to better reflect its focus on renewable energy. The company was founded by Jonathan Read, who served as its CEO and President. Read, an entrepreneur with a background that includes founding Park Plaza International hotels, pivoted the company from hydrogen to electric battery and charging technology.

ECOtality operated primarily through its subsidiary, Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), which had a history in electric transportation dating back to 1989. The business model was heavily reliant on government grants, particularly a significant award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for "The EV Project". This project, launched in 2009, was a large-scale infrastructure study to deploy thousands of charging stations and analyze EV driver behavior. Revenue was generated from performing services under these government agreements and, to a lesser extent, from the sale of charging equipment. The company's clients included EV owners, commercial businesses, and government agencies. ECOtality established numerous partnerships with major corporations like ABB, Nissan, GM, and Best Buy to deploy its chargers.

The company's main product line was the Blink network of electric vehicle chargers, which included Level 2 AC chargers for residential and commercial use, and DC Fast Chargers. These chargers were designed to be part of a connected network, accessible via a web portal and mobile app, allowing users to find stations, check their status, and manage their charging sessions. A key feature was the smart-charging capability, which allowed users to schedule charging for off-peak hours. Beyond the Blink network, ECOtality's subsidiary eTec offered the Minit-Charger line of advanced fast-charge systems for industrial applications like airport ground support equipment.

Despite its early involvement in the EV space and successfully deploying thousands of chargers, ECOtality faced significant financial challenges. The company's business model was not sustainable beyond the completion of the government-funded EV Project. Reports of unreliable chargers and technical issues, such as overheating plugs, further compounded its problems. In August 2013, the DOE suspended payments, and the company suspended trading. ECOtality filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2013. Its assets were subsequently auctioned off; the Blink network was acquired by Car Charging Group, its Minit Charger division by Access Control Group, and its ETEC Labs research arm by Intertek.