[ausev] Some additional thoughts regarding opportunity charging - Plug In America, get their support and assistance?

Mon Mar 17 13:23:03 GMT 2008

Hi Claire and all,

Actually, my post is a different subject.

The intent of my post is more for public awareness than simply to 
provide charging stations around town.  An easy progression of small 
steps towards EV charging at private businesses would help the business 
community warm up to EV's in our society and customers shopping at 
those businesses would likewise become accustomed to EVs.

Seeing someone doing something different and witnessing the benefit is 
a much easier sell than being solicited with a sales campaign.  
Additionally, small steps are always easier for the public to swallow 
than large abrupt changes.  There is momentum to everything, including 
public opinion, and trying to make big changes quickly is always met 
with resistance.

Public charging stations installed by Austin Energy, or any other 
institution, are certainly a goal.  But first, there has to be enough 
EVs to warrant the expense of the installations.  I believe that taking 
small easy steps towards making EVs common place, in the public view, 
is a big step towards that goal.

Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: Claire Sorenson <csorenson1 at austin.rr.com>
To: 'AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion' 
<ausev at austinev.org>
Sent: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:13 am
Subject: Re: [ausev] Some additional thoughts regarding opportunity 
charging - Plug In America, get their support and assistance?

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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