Posted on 07/04/2010 9:18:53 AM PDT by Willie Green
Dozens of electric-vehicle charging stations will spring up around Charlotte by this time next year, shortly after the first plug-in consumer electric vehicles hit the streets. Duke Energy is advising local governments and employers that want to install charging stations. Duke expects about 100 to be ready in its N.C. service territory, most in the Charlotte area, by next summer. Sixty to 80 public stations will go up in its S.C. territory.
The research hub of Raleigh expects about 200 public charging stations. The charging network, to be built over the next two years, will turn the Triangle into a Southeastern testing ground for electric cars. Now, there are fewer than a dozen public recharge outlets in North Carolina.
The stations - expected in parking decks and shopping centers and at curbsides - are the first of about 350 planned throughout the state, financed largely by the federal stimulus. The pods will be concentrated in urban areas, the preferred habitat of electric cars, which are mostly used for short commutes and quick errands.
The first recharging stations will be activated toward the end of this year, coinciding with the planned commercial release of the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid electric car and the Nissan Leaf all-electric auto. Expected price estimates on the vehicles range from $32,000 to $40,000, and buyers would get a $7,500 federal tax credit.
By the time the statewide network of charging stations is complete in late 2012, most of the nation's automakers are expected to be selling electric models.
The stations - expected in parking decks and shopping centers and at curbsides - are the first of about 350 planned throughout the state, financed largely by the federal stimulus.
Only 350 for the entire state???
And it takes what... 6 hrs to fully recharge a Chevy Volt?? (3 hrs @ 220v??)
I don't think this is gonna work out so well....
What a waste of money, you gotta love it.
Where is the coal going to come from to satisfy the extra electric demand?
A Prius (spit) is a better deal for the money.
Are they going to charge people to charge or are they continuing the fiction that electricity is free when it comes to cars?
And what happens when the "Stimulus" funds dry up?
I guess that if the grid ever goes out, nobody ain’t going nowhere.
When they can get the range up to over two hundred miles and the recharge time down to under fifteen minutes, then electric cars may become viable.
How much will they charge the customer for the service? Credit/Debit cards only? Do they need to be attended to decrease liability?
I wonder about that too. Not exactly like pulling up to the pump and filling up and going five minutes later.
Yeah, all these “stations” are powered by wind turbines, for sure...or Ed Begley, Jr on his little generator bike...
dopes all!
I finally figured out that if I wanted to keep any of my rechargeable tool batteries long-lived, I had to unplug them from the tools. I've had an improvement in life and charge hold time doing that.....wonder how you'd do this in an electric car...
Even the ones I have seen in southern California go unused. If they are not used here, they will definitely sit idle there!
The next generation BMW....looks like a Segway with a cab.
Indeed. Any child with an electric car would ask the same thing. Electric cars that need to be recharged is a moronic idea. Might as well put all of the recharge stations in hotel parking lots.
Yeah! That’s what I’m talkin’ bout! Can’t you just picture old fart me with a Springfield M-1 Garand Cap, blue jeans and a farmers shirt sittin’ in this?
I don't have a problem if people want an electric vehicle and pay the real price for them and for the electricity. I do have a problem when the government decides to subsidize electric vehicles at the expense of other types of cars. Also, I am concerned that electricity isn't easily storable, so you can't keep a couple of fill-ups of fuel in your garage for an emergency like I do with gasoline.
Intersting experiment.
Glad someone is trying it because there will be a lot of bugs to work out.
What generates the electricity in Charlotte?
Nope, Bammer gonna give these to his 'stitchients'....they gonna have to charge these at the welfare office.....
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