First Public Charging Station for Electric Cars
During a low-key ceremony just over a week ago, the first public high-voltage charging station for electric vehicles was inaugurated at the Gateway Center in East Woodland California. Representatives from Tesla Motors were on hand to help demonstrate with six Tesla Roadsters. The power station is capable of charging an electric car in about one hour and is meant to set an example for future stations being planned in other states.
The station is a result of collaboration between developers and the city, and is located east of Interstate-5 off County Road 102 at the Gateway Center. It contains one Tesla, two AVcons, one small paddle inductive charger, plus two neighborhood electric vehicle standard outlets. Plug-in America estimates that some 200-300 EVs of various types are located within 100 miles of the site, which will accommodate all new EVs and PHEVs.
View the Inauguration Photo Gallery
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May 4th, 2009
The first step has been taken. Chevron, Arco, Shell, Valero… your turn.
May 4th, 2009
I believe that this is part of a planned network of charging stations.
May 4th, 2009
I wonder how it will be shared. If a driver leaves their car and it’s done charging… what about the next person who is waiting for their turn? Can they just remove the charging head themselves if the person doesn’t return on time? (assuming they are parked close enough to move it to their vehicle) What if a person disconnects it before the other car is done charging? It’d be nice if these connections were “smart” and knew what car it was charging (e.g. VIN # is known through the electrical interface). Then, the receipt (or a web site, or e-mail delivered receipt) would show the state of charge when it was disconnected and who the next car was perhaps. All kinds of issues surrounding this new technology! Still, great news that this event has finally occurred! Even though I’m in Ohio, it’ll get here eventually…
May 4th, 2009
Electric cars are great but we need to use renewable energy to charge them.
May 4th, 2009
Scott - all very good points, that require addressing if they aren’t already. Also, what do you do for an hour while the charge is underway - go roam around a local mall / hopefully time it with a business meeting if you happen to be in the area that has a charge station?
What are the chances I wonder the charging timeframe will be able to be more rapid in the near future? (even 15 min. would be acceptable) - I suspect this *may* be a crucial selling point, unless the charging stations are situated at one’s place of work (ie. all large office complexes/companies).
Dave
May 4th, 2009
What is the cost of a charge?
May 4th, 2009
It is about time for the return of the electric car. GM should of never of killed the electric car I think it is over 5 years ago. Has anyone ever rented the movie documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car”
May 4th, 2009
Maui will be receiving their first fully electric powered vehicles (Phoenix Automotive) and will be very interesting to see what charging stations will be utilized.
May 4th, 2009
Wait an hour? No worry… when Eestor gets there product out, we’ll supposedly see 5 min charging time… can you say: bye-bye expensive Lithium??
May 4th, 2009
Scott Collins:
Dave Rowlison:
You should check out a company called BetterPlace. The charging station they opened is more token than anything else. The end goal is to have them right by the parking meters, so you can charge while you are parked. BetterPlace also uses swap technology with if far more practical than charging stations. Check out what they have rolled out in Israel. BetterPlace also only used renewable electricity.
Why did GM kill the electric car…maybe now they are feeling their Karma…great movie…
May 4th, 2009
It really is about time! This is great news! Rick Mercer did a show in Canada about a year ago highlighting a Canadian who actually patented and produced a great, fast, slick-looking, quiet electric car, but the Canadian gov’t apparently made it “illegal” to sell it on the Canadian market. Needless to say I’m disgusted at that, and hope it changes soon! Electric shouldn’t be thought of as ‘alternative’ energy, it should be thought of as the new STANDARD energy…
May 4th, 2009
A small step, but a great acheivement for sustainability! I hope that the charging time can be reduced in future and that the interest of authorities and the public are sustained.
May 5th, 2009
Yes, I have seen the movie “Who killed the electric car” by Chris Payne. Here is his web site papercutfilms.com - He is now in the process of making a new movie about what is the next step in electric cars. Who killed the electric car was a very eye opening movie, it showed just how badly GM wanted to stop this great concept. They crushed all 800 cars here in Arizona near Phoenix in 1996. NOW THEY ARE CRYING “WE NEED MONEY” They should be punished for what they did not rewarded !!! Scott, Yes GM is getting their karma, they had a chance to take back the car market over 13 years ago, but no, they let Japan walk all over us again with the Prius and other cars.
Everyone should rent this movie to see how not only GM but Ford, the state of California, the Federal government and several others were determined to destroy any and all interest in electric cars because they would not make any money on all of the other stuff required to keep a dirty gas engine going in the service department of their dealerships. This movie shows how even the commercials for the electric cars were meant to intimidate rather than sell them. If they used the same tactic to advertise a Hummer, none would have been sold.
July 2nd, 2009
This is the future! Someday the gas station will be no more and solar powered electric gas stations will be the norm for SURE!!! Its the future that we are in!