The blame really falls on US
The blame really falls on US can OEM's and the SAE Standards body, in making this simple design decision so laborious. For those companies deploying EVSE stations for DC Quick-Charging, only existing Protocols can justify the high expense of deployment and at the moment, ChaDeMo is "it". To look at it another way, even if the SAE had ratified the Standard, THERE ARE NO US-BUILT EV's or PHEV's that currently feature DC Charging. If the State of California held-up deployment waiting for US Cars to "catch-up", sales and therefore utilization of EV's might be "stalled". Those of us in the business are planning to add/modify EVSE equipment to accommodate US SAE Protocols once there are sufficient numbers of these vehicles on-the-road. NRG is a good firm and has plenty of capital to extend their deployment to include SAE Standards when the time is ripe. 200 DC Chargers in CA is a "drop-in-the-bucket" against the backdrop of totals required to foster a healty EV "Ecosphere" throughout the state. My hat is off to these early participants-remember, they have to build a credible brand now, if they are to continue investing in CA in the years ahead. EVSE Equipment manufacturers will build "Dual Protocol" units with a plug of each type on their respective sides for ChaDeMo/SAE compliance. ChaDeMo is forever the "legacy" Protocol and ChaDeMo vehicles will be on the road for many years, so there is no way we can ignore them at the outset, or include an as yet non-existent "fleet" until the vehicles materialize. As CA. Power utility companies are not allowed to own/operate EVSE networks and NRG is a TX-based utility, perhaps some consideration should be given to that area of the "puzzle". Maybe PG&E, Edison and Sempra should consider building car-charging networks in Texas. Either way, for EV's to become a mass-market product, this infrastucture has to go in and someone has to pay for it. Ecotality used GovGrant money-NRG (I assume) is using private capital. The real "Elephant in the Living Room" are the huge utility Demand Fees which are incurred in CA. when delivering 50Kw Quick-Charging. Without batteries to act as "buffers" on Quick-Charge installations, the cost of energy can be so high that a driver would have to pay $30 for a half-hour (80 Miles of range) session on the EVSE-QC. At least the lawsuit has been settled. Good news in the short-term as the infrastructure is badly needed.