The Blink Network lets EV charging providers integrate with utilities and other third parties to facilitate energy management.

Players in the EV charging business are arraying their forces for battle. Public chargers are being rapidly rolled out around the world, but they use a variety of different payment methods, and there are several competing networks that handle data exchange services.

Two of the industry’s major players increased their cooperation this week, as the multinational electronics giant ABB announced a $5 million-dollar non-exclusive licensing agreement with ECOtality (NASDAQ: ECTY) to use ECOtality’s Blink Network for ABB’s EV charging systems. ABB also increased its investment in ECOtality, adding $5 million to the $14 million it bet on the company in 2011.

The Blink Network lets EV charging providers integrate with utilities and other third parties to facilitate energy management, membership and payment programs. ABB is installing its Terra Systems DC chargers at a growing list of locations in Europe, including several BP stations in the Netherlands and 200 public locations in Estonia.

Image: ABB