14 DAY TRIAL // It not that often that you see manufacturers coming to an agreement without being forced by one government institution or the other, but once in a while such a thing happens as it was the case recently when a series of automakers agreed to develop a universal charger for their electric cars.
The group is comprised of German automakers Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen which have joined forces with General Motors and Ford to develop the Combined Charging System.
Behind this fancy name stands a new universal plug that will be compatible with most of the current charging methods, including single-phase AC, three-phase AC, residential DC or DC quick-charge at public stations.
Of course that there is more to this than an universal plug, as it also packs the charging communication and the electric and safety architecture required for such a device.
The charger should be ready for deployment in mid-2011 and the group states it can decrease the costs associated with the development of electric cars.