http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009139766_webelectric28.html

I'm not sure what they mean by "work together to promote the development of an electric-car charging network". Past experience tells me this will appear in a voter pamphlet soon with a sexy, green headline, designed to lure my tax-happy neighbors into approving yet another levy on my burdened property.

Anyway, apart from what I read as weasel words, maybe this is a good thing long term.

Anyway, apart from what I read as weasel words, maybe this is a good thing long term.

Don't count on it. If they talk about tax breaks for businesses to put in charging stations, then OK. If they talk about some sort of tax increase to pay for charging stations, then I say fight it as best you can. Municipalities will use schemes like these to fill up the coffers of the general fund. That and taxes almost never go away, just grow.

At the present time, no charging infrastructure is needed IMO. The very few EVs that hit the road in the next five years will be purchased by people with off street parking and access to power. Some of them, like myself will be able to charge at work too. This is do to the fact that these cars will be expensive and people with money to burn on expensive new technology will 90+% of the time have off street parking. I say we take a wait and see approach, rather than a build it and they will come approach. Before we start taxing everybody to subsidize the wealthy, we should see how popular EVs turn out to be. It could be that very high acquisition cost and low gasoline pricing will keep EVs in their curiosity status much longer.