The international buildout of infrastructure for electric vehicles will produce nearly $6.5 billion in revenue by 2015, according to Pike Research. A number of startups are racing to build the 5 million charge points Pike anticipates will be installed by then, and a wide web of automakers, utilities, computing and software giants, policy makers and others are getting involved in the effort.

Creating a comprehensive network of vehicle charge points at homes, workplaces, commercial/retail sites and public areas has implications for the accessibility and appeal of the plug-in vehicles now widely seen as a key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. This, combined with the significant business opportunity of a major infrastructure buildout, means speed and innovative business models are critical. For cues on how to achieve that, we can look to other major infrastructure efforts, notably the buildout of high-speed Internet. Like the EV charging buildout, it’s getting a big push from government, and together these buildouts will transform the flow of energy, data and information throughout the U.S. economy.

Get it on the Books
Some cities have written wiring requirements into building codes, requiring any new building or substantial remodel to be ready to interface with the network. This is an important policy issue for automakers trying to ready the market for electric vehicles, as General Motors’ Britta Gross explained at this year’s Plug-In 2009 conference in Long Beach, Calif. Policy assistance in the form of permitting and building codes — requiring, for example, “a dedicated circuit in every garage” — would be “a big enabler for every homeowner and apartment dweller,” and it’s one of GM’s top priorities for getting communities “plug-in ready.”