Top executives from the major car manufacturers met this week to map out the future of the industry. One of the topics of discussion focused on the need for widespread implantation of public electric car charging stations. It didn’t take long for the discussion to flip over and become a talk about how there was no need for a charging station infrastructure.

The auto execs generally felt that home charging would be sufficient to meet the public’s needs and that electric car charging stations would end up unused wastes of money.

They went on to emphasize the importance of improvements in EV batteries and how that will improve electric car range and reduce the need for charging stations.

What do you think? Is an electric car charging station infrastructure a waste of time?

Thinking about buying a Chevy Volt this year but don’t want to fork over the extra cash for the 240-volt home charger system? Well you can get one for free courtesy the US government if you’re among the first 4,400 Chevy Volt purchasers later this year.

Additionally, the Department of Energy is assisting in the installation of approximately 15,000 chargers for electric vehicles across the United States. A 240-volt charge station costs about $2,000.

For the DOE’s contribution it will get access to information on Volt driver usage that will help them to “understand what is required for widespread electric vehicle use.”

Al Castignetti, the division VP of Nissan, recently stated at the groundbreaking event in Tennessee that more than 50% of the 130,000 Nissan Leaf pre-orders came from people who currently own a Toyota Prius.

Castignetti went on to say that, “. It tells us that there is a segment of eco-friendly consumers who are interested in going to the next level. They own a hybrid vehicle. But if the next step is available, they want to take it.”

Castignetti described the enthusiasm that Nissan dealerships have been expressing about the Leaf and explained that in order for a Nissan dealership be allowed to sell the Leaf they must install a minimum of two electric car charging stations. All larger Nissan dealerships will be required to install four charging stations with one that is reserved for Nissan Leaf owners.

Congress will be examining two bills today that would see up to $11 billion in new funding put towards the goal of seeing four million electric vehicles on the road by 2017.

This new cash injection would be earmarked for electric vehicle purchase subsidizing as well as investing in electric vehicle recharging stations.

With one of the main stumbling blocks to the whole hearted adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S. being range anxiety, increased funding for EV charging stations could go a long way to hitting the 2017 target.

The bills in the House of Representatives and Senate have sponsors on both sides of the partisan fence and have a good shot of passing especially with massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico looming in the minds of voters.

IAV Automotive Engineering out of Germany has recently secured an impressive patent for their electric vehicle wireless road charging system. That’s right, it magically beams energy to your electric car.

The technology would work by installing electrical conductors into rodas. These conductors would generate magnetic fields which charge an electric vehicle’s battery as it drives. RFID tags would mark your electric car and keep track of how much energy you use so you can be billed appropriately.

If this works as described, this could spell disaster for all the companies scrambling to establish battery charging and swapping station infrastructures.

The IAV electric car charging system would not only eliminate any concerns about range anxiety not to mention that the whole system is resistant to weather and mechanical wear as well as having the ability to charge vehicles traveling at high speeds or even while parked.

So far, test at IAV are showing an impressive 90% efficiency of energy transfer from conductors to vehicles. The conductors also have sensors that detect when a vehicle is near and only operate when necessary.

IAV expects that this technology will be commercially available within three years.

This week at the New York Auto Show Mitsubishi made the announcement that they would assist in building a state-wide charging network for electric cars in Oregon.

Mitsubishi Motors North America CEO Shinichi Kurihara announced the commitment the same morning that it was announced that the Mitsubishi iMiEV would be coming to the United States.

Mitsubishi’s contribution will come in the form of input to state while it builds the electric vehicle charging stations.

This makes the second partnership for the state of Oregon’s EV charging station project. Nissan was in Portland last Monday with a prototype of a 2010 electric car which is expected to be sold this year.

Forsaken gas stations in London may be going from gassy to green this year thanks to Evoasis. The company recently announced its intention to transform the stations from gas pumps to slick new high-speed electric vehicle recharging stations.

Recharge times for electric cars will be approximately 20 minutes and, in the case of the first station, will include 12 charging spots. They will include a lounge that will sell food and drink to the waiting customers. This first of six such stations will go up on Grosvenor Road.

Evoasis is also looking to work with Tesco and the Westminster council to provide stand-alone charging points.

Geoff Hoon, Britain’s transport minister, recently stated that since 2004 almost 5,000 electric vehicles have been registered for the road with 1,322 coming from last year.