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CHAdeMO EV quick-chargers to get wider tests across US, 80% capacity in 30 mins or less

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="CHAdeMO EV quick-chargers to get wider tests across US, 80% capacity in 30 minutes or less" border="1" height="266" hspace="4" src="http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4884/chademo201101016331562.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div><br />
The idea of waiting around for hours for your EV to recharge is soon to become a thing of the past -- or rather it already is in Japan, where the CHAdeMO-style chargers are enabling cars like the Nissan Leaf to get to 80 percent battery capacity in just 30 minutes. Now they're properly starting their US invasion. The first assault came in Portland a few months back, with 310 more stations lining up for deployment in Arizona, California, Texas, Tennessee, Oregon, and elsewhere in Washington according to <i>Yomiuri</i>. The move will cost about $230 million total, though there's no word on whether they'll be publically available like the one in Portland is. CHAdeMO, which is a play on the Japanese "O cha demo ikaga desuka" ("let's have tea while charging"), works by handling the AC to DC conversion externally and providing power at up to 500VDC and 125 Amps, much higher than on-board AC/DC converters can handle. This drives down recharging time massively -- even if you don't like tea.<br />
<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/02/chademo-ev-quick-chargers-to-get-wider-tests-across-us-80-capa/"></a><br />
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CHAdeMO EV quick-chargers to get wider tests across US, 80% capacity in 30 mins or less

The idea of waiting around for hours for your EV to recharge is soon to become a thing of the past -- or rather it already is in Japan, whe...

Nissan Leaf rates you against other drivers, creates a high score list for hypermilers

<div><img alt="Nissan Leaf rates you against other drivers, creates a high score list for hypermilers" border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/12/leaf-carwings-2010-12-24.jpg" vspace="4" /></div><br />
Xbox Live and the Achievement system kind of reinvented the high score list, letting you compete against your friends even when you're roaming solo through a stark, barren wasteland. It looks like Nissan is doing much the same with the Leaf -- but minus the bloatflies and the supermutants. As the cars are now rolling out to eager owners we're learning more about just what its Carwings system can do and another neat trick is the "Regional Rankings" page, where one driver's driving efficiency is rated against others in the area. There are bronze, silver, and gold medals up for grabs but, if you cover the thing with speed tape and only commute downhill, you might just be awarded the platinum award. What does that get you? Why, a little picture of a trophy, of course. What were you expecting?<br />
<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/26/nissan-leaf-rates-you-against-other-drivers-creates-a-high-scor/"></a><br />
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Nissan Leaf rates you against other drivers, creates a high score list for hypermilers

Xbox Live and the Achievement system kind of reinvented the high score list, letting you compete against your friends even when you're ...