yves behar / fuseproject: GE wattstation electric vehicle charger

the GE wattstation behaves like a piece of street infrastructure blending into the urban landscape

san francisco-based fuseproject, led by designer yves behar has designed the ‘GE wattstation™’, an electrical charging station for general electric’s (GE) ecomagination initiative. the GE wattstation is an easy-to-use electric vehicle (EV) charger housed inside a modular, consumer friendly form.

GE wattstation sidewalk line-up

the station is designed to to be as durable as street furniture, as visible as a beacon of light and to look as nice as street greenery. the GE wattstation has been developed to break all paradigms of the typical large scale, angular and brash ‘gas pump’. to achieve this, fuseproject has created a soft and distinctive friendly icon that is expressed through a cylindrical body that flares toward the top where it becomes a circular interface. this user interface is angled for ergonomic comfort, and its surrounded lens houses a useful and informational graphic interface. the LED light ring indicates to the driver whether the station is: available (white), fully charged (green), charging (red) or out of order (yellow). it is the first charging station with a self-retractable charging cable, keeping streets tidy while protecting the cable from weather elements, through its compact metal shell. built to withstand harsh weather and usage conditions, it also includes a built-in heater to defrost the snow during winter days.

scenario of GE wattstations set-up in a parking lot

the GE wattstation has been designed help accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles, significantly reducing the time needed for vehicle charging. it is embedded with GE’s smart grid technology which enables the station to charge a vehicle in 4-8 hours (assuming a 24kWh battery), compared to the normal 12-18. through wireless communication in conjunction with digital platforms and mobile devices, users will be able to remotely locate, operate and monitor the units. it will help utility companies manage the impact of electric vehicles on the local and regional grids and help customers stay current with the latest advances.

front and profile views

‘good design is when a new technology enters our life and makes it more simple, beautiful and healthy. the GE wattstation achieves this with a welcoming design that will seamlessly integrate into the urban landscape and become a natural part of our daily driving routine.’ – yves behar

detail of the charging station

the GE wattstation prototype will be available within the fourth quarter of 2010 throughout the U.S. and europe. commercial and residential wattstations will be available to the american, european and asian markets in 2011, and will be available through a number of distribution channels, including utilities, auto dealerships, electrical wholesalers and licensed electrical contractors as well as through an online store.

GE wattstation with self-retractable charging cable