Initiative targets 1,000 Electric Vehicles in Bloomington-Normal by 2014

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, Ill.…Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced it will provide technology and support for a major electric vehicle (EV) effort to build an EV infrastructure and deploy as many as 1,000 Mitsubishi “i" electric vehicles in the Bloomington-Normal area by 2014.

The initiative was announced at an event with local, state and Mitsubishi representatives at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. The event featured Jeff Pritts, general manager, Marriott, and chair of the Bloomington-Normal EV Task Force. Additional regional leaders attended, including Chris Koos, mayor, Town of Normal. Noting that their goal is to make the region known as “EVTown,” the group celebrated the initiation of the long-term electric vehicle infrastructure plan that anticipates a phased approach to correspond with the expected demand for electric vehicles within the community.

“Eaton is uniquely positioned to create a safe and reliable electric vehicle infrastructure,” said Mayor Koos. “With its leadership in sustainability, energy efficiency and power management, Eaton will help pave the way to EVTown.”

Eaton will supply the EV charging infrastructure for the initial phase rollout, which is planned to take place throughout 2011. Eaton will also provide awareness and technical training and charging station educational opportunities for the Bloomington-Normal, including residents, businesses and government officials.

“Through strong collaborations with communities like Bloomington-Normal, Eaton is developing electric charging infrastructures that will help electric vehicle drivers confidently go about their daily business and reduce ‘range anxiety,’” said Tom Schafer, vice president, Eaton's Commercial Distribution Products Division. “This announcement demonstrates Eaton’s long-term commitment to advancing EV infrastructure and follows other successful initiatives, such as the Plug In Carolina project that included creation of a multi-city charging infrastructure across South Carolina.”
Eaton is focused on creating innovative and affordable technologies that help customers reduce their impact on the environment. For more than 20 years, Eaton has developed electrical and hybrid power systems for trucks and buses and is now developing innovative solutions for hybrid power systems in commercial vehicles. 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. Eaton offers a complete line of electric vehicle chargers for residential and industrial application and has a presence in communities across North America. For more information, visit www.eaton.com/plugin.

Eaton’s electrical business is a global leader in power distribution, power quality, control and industrial automation products and services. Eaton’s global electrical product lines, including Cutler-Hammer®, Moeller®, Powerware®, Holec®, MEM®, Santak®, and MGE Office Protection Systems™ provide customer-driven PowerChain Management®  solutions to serve the power system needs of the data center, industrial, institutional, government, utility, commercial, residential, and OEM markets worldwide.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.