Earlier this month, the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) and Nissan began testing a new roadside service vehicle equipped with a charger, to assist stranded electric vehicles (EVs). Now, the American Automobile Association (AAA) is about to launch a similar pilot project, where mobile charging units will join the roadside assistance fleets in six test regions - a significant marker along the path to mass adoption of the EV in North America.

The AAA's new full production level-two and level-three electric vehicle mobile charging units will be unveiled proper at the Plug-In 2011 Conference & Exposition in Raleigh, North Carolina - which runs from July 18 to 21 - where details of initial deployment locations will also be revealed. Christie Hyde from the AAA says that interest shown by other regional AAA clubs is high, and the motoring organization anticipates that the scheme will quickly expand beyond the initial six regions.

The new units will go into service within the next few months, and join similar solutions recently launched by Australia's Club Assist and Switzerland's Nation-E, in offering some peace of mind to EV drivers.