The maker of charging stations for electric vehicles Ecotality, Inc has filed for bankruptcy protection and is planning to auction off its assets next month. This is the same company that four years ago won a $99.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The company is based in San Francisco and is among an increasing number of U.S. alternative energy companies are struggling or have failed to survive due to consumer reluctance of the high cost and restricted mile range that comes with electric vehicles.