Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Electric car charging stations increasing in California


Are electric car charging stations included in Pacifica infrastructure planning? 

Los Gatos Weekly Times/Judy Peterson, 5/21/13, "Electrifying new rules for charging spaces in downtown Los Gatos."  

Los Gatos downtown
....  "When the town installed charging stations last June, it was with the understanding that they would be in parking spaces that could also be used by internal combustion vehicles. There are EV charging stations on S. Santa Cruz Avenue across from the Toll House Hotel, in the parking lot between Elm and Main streets, in the lot between Royce Avenue and Grays Lane and next to the library on Villa Avenue.

But allowing non-electric vehicles to use the spaces has proved problematic because internal combustion vehicles are apparently keeping the EVs out. "As a result, visiting electric vehicles are not able to use the charging infrastructure that the council has authorized and put into place," resident Dennis Mc-Evoy said. McEvoy charges his EV at home and said he doesn't need to use the charging stations in town.

.... The council voted unanimously to convert the charging stations to exclusive EV use while charging. Signs will be posted when the new policy takes effect, but the council did not set a timeline for implementation."  Read article. 

Andrew Utter plugging his converted Toyota Prius into a charging station across the street from City Hall in San Francisco.
20 minutes, 80% charge
Related Autoblog green/Danny King,  blog, 5/8/13,  "The EV Open Access Act, or SB454, was recently passed by the California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. The bill guarantees plug-in owners "same access" to publicly accessible charging stations as conventional car owners have to gas stations. ....  That California took the lead here is no surprise. Californians have bought more than 35,000 plug-ins – more than a third of all the plug-ins in the US – since 2011. As of the end of last month, the Golden State was home to 1,276 publicly accessible charging stations, or more than a fifth of the country's total, according to the US Energy Department." Other Autoblog green articles.

Christian Science Monitor/John Voelcker (opinion), 2/28/13, "Are California's electric-car charging stations too congested? "California is by far the largest single market for electric cars, Voelcker writes, and that means charging stations in public parking lots are now sometimes fully occupied, meaning they can't recharge their electric cars' batteries."   NBC/Business 5/17/13, "Expect millions of electric car charging stations by 2020," San Francisco plug in, lower right photograph.  Los Gatos, CA city data, population 29,502, household income $117,669 (2009);  upper left photograph from Vine Times, 4/7/11.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

8 comments:

Kathy Meeh said...

If the trend is that we're moving to electric cars, with "millions of charging stations by 2020", 7 years from now-- what impact will that have on city planning. Will the charging stations be in shopping centers or restaurant parking lots? Will charging speed-up, and who will monitor how long a car may sit at the charging station? What will replace California gas taxes?

On the FP "Toll Roads" article, a blogger was complaining about the additional toll road cost, but road/transportation money has to come from somewhere. Where? And what happens to the gas industry and gas stations? As I recall gas stations are the top revenue producers for this city. What's the plan?

Anonymous said...

There is a charging station behind the Airport Drive Costco.

Safeway is the top revenue profucer.

Kathy Meeh said...

"Safeway is the top revenue producer" for the city, Anonymous 7:06 AM

Whereas I said, "As I recall gas stations are the top revenue producers for this city." (5/21/3:34 PM).

We're talking tax "revenue for the city". So what you said is of interest because 1) although through observation Safeway is busy, provides jobs, and should produce the top revenue; 2) most food items are not taxed, and what I'm talking about is tax "revenue for the city."

Time to take another look at the city listing, although it probably hasn't changed much. Be my guest, get that listing, and let's post it as an article (under your name of course).

Anonymous said...

The smartest idea I've heard is to standardize the batteries across car models, and then equip gas stations with the ability to swap them out for a small fee. They could then charge up the spent battery to sell to another customer once it's fully charged.

Given your obsession with whether someone attaches their name or not, please feel free to ignore this comment, Kathy.

Kathy Meeh said...

Quality comment, followed by a "cheap shot". Do you feel compelled to make a "cheap shot" under anonymous cover, Anonymous 11:53 AM?

As for what you refer to as "my obsession" with Anonymous comments, my concern is faulty information, and personal attacks delivered under anonymous cover. Case in point, you delivered good information, along a twisted attack on my viewpoint. And as mentioned prior people with names are accountable, whereas you are not.

My attitude about this is not obsessive, your serial comments diverting the issue to "whether someone attaches their name" are. Unfortunately by attacking another blogger (me this time), you've also stepped on your own comment.

Anonymous said...

Kathy,

Maybe just maybe people have jobs and they don't want their names out on message boards. Not just this one but all message boards.

Things like this can come back and haunt you. Even years later. Even years after you move away.

Anonymous said...

Oh for Christ's sake, just leave it alone. Until this blog becomes Riptide-Right just keep it factual and there should be no problema. And if there is, why would you want to be on here?

Anonymous said...

Some of the people on this blog seem very immature when it comes to social media and devolve everything into juvenile pissing matches, whether with tea party members or anonymi. It's reminiscent of the web circa 1992.