[ausev] Some additional thoughts regarding opportunity charging - Plug In...

[MOMMYACTIVIST at aol.com]

Hi,
I work for the City of Austin, Austin  Energy / Plug in Partners  National 
Campaign. I will send this on to someone at AE and see if I can get  some of 
your questions answered. Probably Mark Kapner. I know you guys know him.  He is 
always glad to help. 
I have never heard of specific funds for charging stations.
Our website is _www.pluginpartners.org _ (http://www.pluginpartners.org ) 
They are adding some information to it.
BTW our campaign is over in October 2008. M
 
 
In a message dated 3/15/2008 10:14:20 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
csorenson1 at austin.rr.com writes:

I have  not followed this whole thread, so it may have been suggested already
-  someone might want to check in with the City of Austin's involvement in
the  "Plug In American" program.  I think one of their projects is to  install
charging stations around Austin.  So, they might have funds,  plans,
suggestions, etc.  I think many of us are already familiar with  the program.
I think we had a link on our website, although I don't see it  right now.
See links  below:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/2005/plugin_austin.htm  

http://www.austinenergy.com/About%20Us/Environmental%20Initiatives/Plug-in%2
0Hybrid%20Vehicles/index.htm

CS Unlimited
Claire  Sorenson
Ph: 512-689-5911
Fax:  512-282-9942



-----Original Message-----
From:  ausev-bounces at austinev.org [mailto:ausev-bounces at austinev.org] On
Behalf Of  KensCircus at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 9:46 AM
To:  ausev at austinev.org
Subject: [ausev] Some additional thoughts regarding  opportunity charging

Regarding shopping center  charging...

Before specific charging installations are implemented, we  should all
understand that only one vehicle can charge at a time.  If  there are several
outlets available at one store, assume they are all on  one breaker.  It
should not be hard to determine if an outlet is  already in use.  The cord
should be an easy clue.  It is just a  matter of “look before you plug”.  The
primary benefit to using  existing 120VAC outlets is to help create a
positive familiarity with EV ’s  to the general business population.  Sort of
getting their feet wet,  comfortably, before they are confronted with
installation  requests.

When we do proceed to promote charging “station”  installations.  I would
recommend one outlet per breaker, even if that  means only one charging
outlet per shopping center.  That means no  duplex outlets even for 120 VAC.
That eliminates the concern of an  uncontrolled number of vehicles charging
on one circuit.  A tripped  breaker will create a negative concern for the
business management.   

I don’t expect the EV population to be large enough that mass charging  will
be an issue for quite some time.  When EV charging becomes  popular enough
that more outlets are needed, the businesses will be eager  to install them
because the ordeal of installing the first one was not very  painful and
demonstrated a positive result.  A business would be  disappointed if they
install an elaborate multiple EV charging section,  then only see one EV per
week use the facility.

Regarding payment, I  think a coin-operated outlet would be easy to
implement, manage and  use.  Much like the coin operated control of a car
wash.  The  “box”
could have a number of outlet formats.  Just turn the knob to  select the
desired outlet, plug in, and inset the number of coins for the  amount of
time you expect to charge.  Only the outlet you select would  be active.

Again, even an installation such as this would be a hard  sell to any
business, unless they are already accustomed to EV charging and  can see the
benefit from direct experience.  Once they have gained  some painless
experience of EV charging, we will then be “preaching to the  choir”.  That
is why I advocate a progression of small steps.   

Ken




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