Ecotality Inc. is a maker of charging stations for electric cars under the Blink and Minit Charger brands. The company had won a grant from the US Department of Energy four years ago valued USD99.8 million. Ecotality had filed for bankruptcy protection and said the company had been planning to auctions its assets next month.

The San Francisco, California-based firm is among a growing number of US alternative-energy companies that struggled or succumbed in the middle of consumer resistance to the high cost and restricted driving range associated with electric vehicles.

Ecotality along with five affiliates filed for bankruptcy protection last Monday night with the US bankruptcy court in Phoenix. The company said eight other parties had expressed interest in bidding on its assets. Furthermore, Ecotality announced holding an auction on October 9 that would close within two days.

The company had warned last August 12 for a possible filing of bankruptcy protection. This was due to disappointing number of sales and a suspension of payments from the US federal government.