Charge stations to be free through 2013
The City of San Francisco plans to install 80 electric vehicle (EV) charge stations by the end of 2011 at various city-owned parking garages. Also included in the infrastructure rollout will be locations at San Francisco International Airport and some of the cities branch libraries. The intent behind the free juice is to encourage the early adoption of EVs in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The free access will be offered through 2013.
San Francisco is already a leader in the energy efficiency movement. The electricity provided to EV users will be carbon-free hydroelectricity derived from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. In addition, the city has already met greenhouse gas reduction goals established by the Kyoto Protocol. Private automobiles and trucks powered by diesel and gasoline are the leading producers of greenhouse gas emissions, so any reduction in their use will move the city closer to their goal of more aggressive reductions by 2012.
Many of the stations will accommodate more than one vehicle at once – offering both 120-volt and 240-volt connections. The first of these stations is due to be installed next month.
Meanwhile in San Diego we wait, and wait, and wait for ECOtality to get their act together and begin to install the thousands of contracted public EVSEs as part of the DoE EV Project. If they would have installed only one EVSE a week, in the year and a half since they were awarded the contract, San Diego would have 85 Level 2 EVSEs up and running now. But instead we only have a few, it’s a real shame. Or should I say it’s a real sham?
It would be really nice if we could even get updates from ECOtality every now and then on what is happening. As we say in the fire service “What is your position, your progress, and your needs”.
If they were being truthful, their response would be, “Our position is lost, our progress is nil, and our needs are another press release to distract from our lack of progress!”
Look, I realize ECOtality didn’t have a UL EVSE until Jan 2011. But from Aug 2009, contact award, until now they could have been stubbing out 240v 40A circuits in preparation for the EVSE being UL approved. By doing that they could have thousands of EVSEs operational by now.
If they were being truthful, their response would be, “Our position is lost, our progress is nil, and our needs are another press release to distract from our lack of progress!”
Indy – I love your response to Frank’s query! 🙂
My post today will be about updating the legacy stations in California. Not that I expect much, but I am going to question the EV Project and see what they have to say about their status.
Ernie – Did the EV Project ever respond to your inquiry? Now that would make an interesting story!
Still waiting.