GE, (GE) Siemens (SI) In Battle for EV Charger Start-Ups Market

General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) and Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) are preparing to release their own lines of electric-car charging stations, injecting big-name competition into a nascent business now dominated by little known start-ups.

GE plans to deliver its first electric vehicle charger, called WattStation, this summer and Siemens will roll out its first models of what it calls the Siemens Charge later this year. The conglomerates are trailing a handful of small companies such as ECOtality Inc., Coulomb Technologies and AeroVironment Inc., that have already begun deliveries in California, Texas and Oregon.

Right now, the market is largely dominated by sales to governments building public charging docks. But GE, Siemens and Eaton Corp., another large recent entry, believe that electric-car owners soon will be acquiring chargers for their home at about $1,000 apiece, boosting sales beyond municipalities.

Last year, world-wide sales of charging stations was about $69 million, but the business is expected to reach $1.13 billion by 2013, according to Boulder, Colo., market researcher Pike Research Inc.

"Siemens is extremely strong in the automotive sector. We are extremely strong with electronics," said Ralph Griewing, who leads Siemen's electric vehicle division. "There is a clear picture of a big, big opportunity coming," he said.






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