ne challenge for electric-car buyers has just been solved for those who get on the list quickly. ChargePoint America, a program sponsored by charger-maker Coulomb Technologies to install chargers in nine U.S. cities, is offering the first 4,600 chargers in the program, worth $37 million, for free. Referred to as Level II chargers because they provide electricity at 220 volts to 240 volts, the chargers will be available to both private individuals and to cities for public charging locations. The recipients, however, will have to pay for installation. Home installations are expected to cost up to several hundred dollars, depending on the location. The nine cities include: Austin, Texas; Detroit; Los Angeles; New York; Orlando; Sacramento, Calif.; the San Jose/San Francisco Bay area; Redmond, Wash.; and Washington, D.C. The company says three main factors went into the selection of the cities. First, each region had to be on at least one of the participating automakers list of target regions where their vehicles will be for sale by September 2011, when the chargers are expected to be installed. Second, the regions themselves had to write a letter to support the grant proposal. Third, the […]