This week’s SmartCar roundup features solutions to bolster electric vehicle adoption, a trend that’s been slow despite the growing concern over vehicle carbon emissions and air pollution.  While consumer demand is growing, infrastructure has a hard time keeping up.  So far the biggest hindrance in EV adoption is the scarcity of charging stations.

Unlike gas stations, which travelers can reach without having to use up all the gas in their tanks, charging stations are pretty scarce.  Those with EVs use their vehicles for city driving and not long road trips, for fear of running out of juice before they reach their destination.

Now, companies have solutions planned to allow more freedom to EV drivers.  Here’s some of the most recent initiatives the auto industry is ready to explore.

Electrifying manhole covers

Hevo Power, a New York-based startup, plans to turn manhole covers into charging stations for EVs.  These charging manhole covers can be placed in parking spots, which drivers can reserve and find using a mobile app.  The app will also guide a driver on how to park properly so the charging pads will be perfectly aligned.

image Hevo Power

The covers will use the process of induction to charge EVs via 220-volts and up to 10 kilowatts of energy.  The cars would need to have a 10-pound receiver along the drive train to absorb the power installed, and 10 hours of charging will allow the EV to travel 175 miles.

Wireless charging stations could drive interest for those interested in purchasing an EV, as drivers will no longer have to worry about dealing with cords.  They can just park and go.  Plus these charging manholes can also be installed in people’s homes.

HEVO plans to open its first two wireless charging spots in the lower Manhattan early next year.

More supercharging stations

Tesla Motors is expanding its network of charging stations to allow Model S owners to go on a road trip.  The company is building their own charging networks in the US, Canada, and Europe.

In the US, Tesla boasts that 99 percent of Californians and 87 percent of Model S owners in Washington and Oregon are now within 200 miles of a station.

image Tesla Motors

Model S owners with an 85 kWh battery can use the charging stations for free, while those using the ver 65 kWh would have to pay to enjoy the same privilege.  Some Tesla charging stations are now equipped with superchargers that are able to deliver a 50 percent charge in just 20 minutes, 40 minutes to get to 80 percent charged, and 75 minutes to get a full charge.

Charging an EV takes way longer than filling up a gas tank. So in the future, Tesla plans to offer battery swapping for a fee of around $60-$80.  The point is, you either wait longer but spend nothing, or swap your battery for a new one and be on the road again in just a few minutes.

Though these solutions may offer more freedom for EV owners, the problem still lies with charging taking longer than filling up a tank of gas.  As long as this issue exists, distance drivers will prefer gas-powered vehicles to EVs, as road trips will take longer.

Aside from finding a way to make charging faster, EV manufacturers should also look into equipping their EVs with a battery that can pack serious juice and not need charging as often, or figure out a way on how to make these EVs run on another power source like solar or kinetic, so charging stations and extended charging time will no longer be an issue.

photo credit: onesevenone via photopin cc