Eaton Picks Wilsonville, Oregon, As Center for Electric Vehicle DC Quick Charger

Oct. 14, 2010
Eaton Corporation has chosen its Wilsonville, Oregon, satellite power center as a lead facility to modify and integrate its Electric Vehicle (EV) DC quick charger for the North American market.

Eaton Corporation has chosen its Wilsonville, Oregon, satellite power center as a lead facility to modify and integrate its Electric Vehicle (EV) DC quick charger for the North American market.

The charging stations, which will be launched later this year, are part of Eaton's range of products and services that will provide critical infrastructure for the EV corridors and across North America. Eaton’s quick charger can recharge an electric vehicle to 80 percent of battery capacity in 15-30 minutes. This type of recharge capability addresses the range anxiety anticipated by EV drivers and is expected to significantly aid vehicle adoption, utility and utilization.

“The City of Wilsonville is most pleased that Eaton is bringing to the Portland region the manufacturing of electric-vehicle quick-charging stations for the Western US market. Eaton’s decision demonstrates that the evolving ‘green economy’ can produce good, family-wage jobs for our residents,” said Wilsonville Mayor, Tim Knapp.

Eaton’s 80,000 square foot Wilsonville, Oregon, facility currently employees 85 people. Eaton began its presence in the area in 1980 with its first service center, originally intended to support the wood products industry. Since then Eaton’s local operation has expanded to serve product lines across a wide variety of industry segments, primarily touching 13 western states with some projects reaching across the Americas.

“DC quick charging will be a critical part of the public infrastructure we need to create a cleaner transportation future with plug-in vehicles,” said Rich Stinson, president, Power Distribution Operations–Americas, Eaton’s Electrical Sector. “Eaton is excited to help advance the aggressive early adoption of this clean transportation technology in I-5 Corridor and the Pacific Northwest. The region is helping to pave the way for broader adoption of electric vehicles throughout North America.”

Eaton is the only company to offer hybrid-electric and two hybrid-hydraulic system technologies, as well as the charging and networked charging management infrastructure for commercial and residential applications.

For more information, visit www.eaton.com/plugin.