Mass deployment of electric vehicles isn’t just about cars and kilowatt-hours, but technology. After all, it will take wireless networks and software to help manage charging in a way that minimizes strain on the power grid and maximizes use of clean power sources like solar and wind. To that end, a group ranging from startups to software giants are racing to develop the technology for this “smart charging” infrastructure.

While it’s too early to tell which visions and business models for smart charging technologies will pan out, a number of developers are worth keeping an eye on as they begin deploying this infrastructure. One player plans to connect an onboard transmitting unit through mobile networks to a global data center, another is working on an iPhone app to offer remote control of battery charging, and a third will provide tech for connecting charging controllers to a smart meter via Zigbee-based technology. Check out all 10 over on Earth2Tech.

Nissan pulled back the curtain today on key tools in its plan for an electric, fully networked car: an iPhone application and a system called EV-IT, which will connect the company’s upcoming plug-in vehicle to a global data center via mobile networks. This comes as part of a larger move in the auto industry (helped along by software companies) toward what we’ve described, over on Earth2Tech, as the era of Car 2.0

The idea behind Car 2.0 and the tools that Nissan has just unveiled (along with the latest prototype for the 2010 electric car set to debut on Aug. 2) is that the next generation of cars will link to the power grid and communication networks and function a lot like consumer electronics. Using Nissan’s planned iPhone app, for example, drivers will be able to remotely monitor and control their vehicle’s battery charging, air conditioning and heating. Read the full story on Earth2Tech.com.