[ausev] Opportunity charging...

[Aaron Choate]

Thanks Ken,

This is great news.  It is encouraging that there are businesses who
are willing to make this effort.

I'm wondering if it would be of use to approach these large,
interested companies as a group and negotiate an arrangement that
would allow EVs to charge at their establishments in general.  That
way, we aren't all going in to these businesses and handing the
managers letters.  Perhaps (if we can raise money to cover the costs)
this is an area where AustinEV (maybe in conjunction with AustinEnergy
/ Clean Cities - we would have to ask-) could provide signage and
assistance in making the hookups easier to access, maintain  and such.
 The EAA in California has been pretty successful in expanding and
maintaining the charging infrastructure there.  It seems like an
obvious place for us to concentrate our efforts here.

Are there enough people in the group ready to take something like this
on?  It will take a bit of organization so as to keep the message
simple and consistent.  I don't want to assume that Ken can take this
on, so... anybody want to volunteer to start the sub-group?  If you
need a topic specific list to coordinate, I would be glad to create it
on the AustinEV server.  Just let me know what you need.

Also, there was some discussion about either starting our own or using
one of the already existing charging maps to list all of the
locations.  I can add whichever one to the site when the time comes.

Cheers,

Aaron Choate

On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 8:22 AM,  <kenscircus at aol.com> wrote:
> One of the primary benifits to electric vehicles over gasoline is that
>  electricity is available everywhere you go. Since fueling up with
>  electricity is not yet mainstream it is not sold commercially. One way
>  to help change that is to start doing it.
>
>  Heidi and I have written a form letter that we present to businesses
>  requesting to charge while shopping. So far our success has been a very
>  enthusiastic 100%. Recently, one store manager (Whole Foods) indicated
>  that due to recent construction, their outside outlet was disabled. He
>  then went next door to an adjacent business (REI) and presented them
>  with the letter and request. The REI manager was very excited to let us
>  charge at their outlet even though we were shopping at Whole Foods.
>
>  The letter is a request to pay for the electricity, however, no one has
>  ever accepted payment. This indicates a very encouraging acceptance, or
>  even eagerness, for an electric automotive world.
>
>  The following is the letter we present along with a Tweety flyer. I
>  don't think the list will accept attachments, so if you would like a
>  Tweety flyer send me an email and I will send you a PDF of it. This is
>  not a commercial advertisement flyer. It is one that Heidi and I made
>  in response to frequently asked questions at car shows.
>
>
>  The letter:
>
>  I purchased an NmG electric vehicle, November 27 2006, for its
>  efficiency and convenience
>  (http://www.myersmotors.com/story_funpracticality.html).
>
>  The NmG is a personal commuter car that is designed for shopping, work
>  and general daily driving. From our residential electric rate, the NmG
>  uses $0.0055 (1/2 cent) of electricity per mile or 180 miles on $1.00.
>  It charges from any ordinary wall outlet.
>
>  This letter is a request to charge my car at your facility while
>  shopping. The electricity cost is $0.055 (5 and ½ cents) for the
>  10-mile commute to your store. The car will automatically stop charging
>  when the batteries reach 100% charge, which will take about ½ hour. If
>  I complete my shopping in less than ½ hour, the cost is accordingly
>  less, however, the maximum possible cost is $0.055 regardless how long
>  I spend shopping.
>
>  Even though this is extremely cheap transportation, I am not seeking a
>  "free ride". I will be happy to offer $1.00, or any reasonable amount
>  you would request, for the convenience of keeping my car "topped off"
>  while shopping at your store.
>
>  Best regards,
>
>  Heidi C Thomas
>  512-577-1260 Cell
>  512-834-8053 Home
>
>
>  You are welcome to edit this letter to fit your car.
>
>  Ken & Heidi
>
>
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>  AusEV at austinev.org
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>