Public Charging Stations in YOUR city

[bethkmi]

I purchased my Volt 10 days ago. After searching the online sites listing locations for charging stations, I noticed some of the surrounding cities had them installed, but my city did not. I know my city (West Bloomfield, MI) is very into "going green", so I emailed the officials listed on the website with the idea of installing public charging stations. Surprisingly, several of them replied, and all positively. Evidently, installing a few charging stations is now on their "to-do" list for the next year!

Sometimes a letter to the government can actually do something!! If your city doesn't currently have charging stations, try writing your elected officials

Beth

[rocket]

Good news! I live in Novi.

[Steverino]

I think public charging stations are a waste of money unless they are installed at locations where people are regularly parking their car for 4+ hours. A much better use would be incentives to install stations in employer parking lots. That's where your car will likely be sitting for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. Even a 110v station could do the job.

[bethkmi]

Good news! I live in Novi.

Novi has already installed charging stations at the library & police station.

It would be nice to see more in shopping area parking lots. There are a few at local movie theaters & a couple Meijer stores.

Check out these sites to locate charging stations:
http://www.plugshare.com/
http://www.mychargepoint.net/find-stations.php

Also, you can go to google maps & just search "charging stations"

I don't think public charging stations are a waste, at least it will put them more in the public eye which will make people think more about buying plug-in vehicles.

[bethkmi]

You don't always need 4+ hours to charge, unless you're completely drained & need a full-charge to get home. I would just like to be able to park in any shopping lot & have the ability to plug it in while I shop! :-) A charging station at a movie theater lot would also be very useful.

The first day I got my car I went out with some friends (it was New Years Eve), and there just happened to be a free public charger right on the street down from the restaurant/bar. By the time we left, I had plenty of charge to make it all the way home, gas-free!

[MrEnergyCzar]

I convinced my employer to install one for me at work using my donated SPX level 2. It's allowed me 500+ MPG since....

MrEnergyCzar

[baltimore17]

I think public charging stations are a waste of money unless they are installed at locations where people are regularly parking their car for 4+ hours. A much better use would be incentives to install stations in employer parking lots. That's where your car will likely be sitting for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year. Even a 110v station could do the job.

Not totally valid. The new Harris Teeter near my house has two free EV chargers. In the time I spend inside for a major grocery run, I can pick up 6-10 miles of range. Since I live less than two miles away, and usually shop after work, that's free electricity that I won't have to pay for during the overnight charge.

Plus I get to show off my Volt to the "hey, so that's what a Volt looks like in person" public masses.

[bethkmi]

In the time I spend inside for a major grocery run, I can pick up 6-10 miles of range. Since I live less than two miles away, and usually shop after work, that's free electricity that I won't have to pay for during the overnight charge.

Plus I get to show off my Volt to the "hey, so that's what a Volt looks like in person" public masses.

Exactly!! Public charging stations are good for us, because we get a few extra miles while shopping, they are good for the store, as they will promote people with ev vehicles to shop more there, good for the whole EV community, as it shows the public that these are becoming more common & therefore encourages future EV sales.

Putting public charging stations in parking lots is a win-win for everyone.

[bethkmi]

New article on the subject in a Detroit paper:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...SxqAbA&cad=rja

[Prius2Volt]

"Novi has already installed charging stations at the library & police station."

Two useless locations. Unless you are being booked, or really have a hard time finding a book, people don't spend enough time at both those locations.

Employers Parking Lots, Theme Parks (amazing NO theme park has them), Movie Theaters, Malls, Sport Bars, etc. You get the idea, places people actually spend 2+ hours at.

Of course, here in Orlando we are getting killed by a contractor going around promising everyone that they can get rich with chargers, so we are seeing a plethora of new chargers going up for $3/hour charging. That's $12 to charge a 40 mile range. They have to be kidding.