EV QUICK CHARGERS GETTING WIDER TESTING; 80% CHARGE IN 30 MINUTES

One of the major factors that may deter people from buying electric vehicles, like Nissan's new Leaf, is the amount of time necessary to recharge the batteries.  Even when using a special 220/240 volt charging station it can take hours to recharge the on-board batteries.  This could keep people from buying these vehicles, especially if it would be their only car.

Now,CHAdeMO (a play on a Japanese term "O cha demo ikaga desuka" ("let's have tea while charging")) is promising an 80% charge in 30 minutes. By handling the AC to DC conversion externally, rather than internally, and providing power up to 500VDC at 125 Amps they are able to achieve this incredible feat.

CHAdeMO starting in Portland, Oregon and is advancing through Arizona, California, Texas, Tennessee and Washington by adding an additional 310 charging stations. This move is being reported to cost CHAdeMO $230 million dollars. [Engadget]