Using RFID to make recharging cars quick, easy and safe

It has been estimated that up to 20 percent of cars in the U.S. will be electric by 2013. Some of the drivers of those cars won’t have any way to charge them up at home; others will, from time to time, want to be able to recharge while on the go.

Thanks to RFID, California-based Coulomb Technologies is ready for these users. Their Smartlet Networked Charging Stations are already up and charging in the downtown area of San Jose, California.

To begin recharging their cars' batteries, users simply hold a special RFID card or RFID keychain up to one of the charging stations.

The unique and encrypted ID on the card is read, verifying that the card's ID number is valid and its account is current; and if it is, the system sends back an authorisation to initiate a charge. The whole process happens in the blink of an eye!

Coulomb chose RFID cards and RFID keychains because they are so easy to use, and because they will someday also let drivers use an RFID-enabled credit or debit card.