GE has unveiled the WattStation, an easy-to-use residential electric vehicle (EV) charger, joining the company’s previously announced public charger. GE says the WattStation was designed to “accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles by significantly decreasing time needed for vehicle charging and, using smart grid technology, allowing utility companies to manage the impact of electric vehicles on the local and regional grids.”

Michael Mahan, global product manager for GE WattStation, says, “The residential WattStation’s easy functionality and design allows for uncomplicated integration of quick electric vehicle charging into your everyday activities.”

The GE says the WattStation reduces the charging time for EVs from 12-18 hours to as little as four to eight hours compared to standard charging level 1, assuming a full-cycle charge for a 24 kWh battery.

“The residential GE WattStation design is friendly and so simple to adopt that it will literally change one’s life overnight: No more trips to the gas station, something that surely no one will miss,” said Yves Behar, founder of fuseproject.

ServiceMagic has been contracted to provide a network of certified electricians to install the WattStation in consumers’ home. In addition, GE Capital will provide financing options for consumers to pay for the charger and installation costs.

Bruce Christensen, general manager of Home Improvement, GE Capital - Sales Finance says the financing options provide a simple process for consumers to pay for the WattStation and related electrical installation services. This is imperative to widespread electric vehicle adoption,”

The GE WattStation will be commercially available globally in 2011.

Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, ServiceMagic was recently named Colorado Technology Company of the Year.

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