GridPoint lands more funds for smarter utility use
GridPoint, one of the largest companies in the emerging smartgrid sector, announced that it has brought in an undisclosed sum from Craton Equity Partners. Already working with several investor-owned utilities like Duke Energy Corp. and Xcel Energy, GridPoint says its system automatically manages energy loads and storage, integrates renewable sources and can be used to power electric vehicles more efficiently.
That last function is of particular importance to GridPoint, which acquired V2Green, a company that makes… Continue Reading
Coulomb vies with Better Place to build electric car charging stations
The field of companies looking to establish networks of electric vehicle charging stations has become quite the horse race. And a relatively recent addition, Coulomb Technologies, has taken on reigning Silicon Valley firm Better Place with a new, grassroots business strategy targeting gas stations, government agencies and shopping centers.
Campbell, Calif.-based Coulomb is in the spotlight today, having raised $3.75 million in a first round of funding from German backer Estag Capital — a round expected… Continue Reading
Smart grid company GridPoint heaps on $120M and buys electric vehicle startup V2Green
GridPoint, one of the largest of the smart grid startups, who aim to more intelligently distribute energy across the electrical grid, has more than doubled up on its prior funding with $120 million. Along with the new money, it has bought out V2Green, which makes software for electric vehicles to efficiently plug into the grid.
This latest move shows a company trying to get a leg up on a bevy of well-funded competitors, who include Silver… Continue Reading
Electric cars vs. biofuels: The presidential energy debate heats up
Drawing a sharp contrast with his Democratic rival, John McCain today assailed government subsidies for ethanol production and unveiled a set of proposals aimed at encouraging the development and mass adoption of electric vehicle technologies.
McCain would provide a $5,000 tax credit to consumers who buy zero-emissions vehicles and proportionately smaller tax credits for low-emissions vehicles, like hybrids. In addition, he said he would award a $300 million bounty for a car battery that can “leapfrog”… Continue Reading
V2Green takes seed funding for plug-in electric charging tech
If plug-in and full-electric vehicles are ever to hit the road in significant numbers, their downtime at the charging plug could create a challenging new load for utilities. V2Green has software that it says can orchestrate vehicle charging with the generating capacity of the electrical grid.
The Seattle-based company, founded in 2006 and just provided with seed funding, is developing an application that stays inside a vehicle and communicates with local utilities when it’s time to… Continue Reading