TUCSON, AZ - ECOtality Inc., project manager of the EV Project, on March 23 expanded installation of the company's Blink Level 2 Residential Charging Station to Tucson, Ariz.

For the EV Project, ECOtality will install Blink EV chargers throughout project regions nationwide to support the launch of 8,300 EVs. ECOtality said it will announce commercial installation launches over the next few weeks.

The upcoming installations of Blink commercial products will include the Blink Level 2 Pedestal Charger and the Blink DC Fast Charger. Both chargers are suitable for public, fleet and commercial use, and will be found at various public and project partner locations. These sites will include retail locations, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores, places of business and employment centers.

"Tucson is an important city in one of our key project markets. We are thrilled that residential Blink chargers are officially being installed in garages throughout the city," said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality.

The March 23 event, hosted at Tucson's El Presidio Park, showcased a Nissan Leaf and Blink Residential Charging Station from Tucson resident Doug Mance.

The EV Project is the largest rollout of EV infrastructure in history. As project manager, ECOtality will monitor the energy usage and output of charging stations. The goal is to determine a viable method for mass adoption of electric vehicles and to empower the smart grid.

"Pima Association of Governments (PAG) Tucson Regional Clean Cities Coalition is proud to be a part of the largest deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure in the nation's history," said Colleen Crowninshield, manager of the Clean Cities Coalition at PAG. "Working with our Clean Cities Coalition members and ECOtality, PAG's Clean Cities program is excited to begin the residential installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, here in Tucson, to help secure America's energy independence for our future."

The Blink Home Charging Stations are available now to EV drivers and are free of charge to EV Project participants.

ECOtality will oversee the installation of commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas throughout six states and the District of Columbia. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8 million made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grants are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to approximately $230 million.