SACE’s Electrical Transportation Director shares insights into well timed electrical car (EV) subjects on LinkedIn. Take a look at what’s captured his consideration not too long ago and be a part of the dialog.
Stan Cross | September 18, 2024
| Clear Transportation, Electrical Automobiles
The quantity of data out there about EVs has elevated from scant to overwhelming up to now 5 years because the adoption of passenger EVs has expanded quickly and electrical buses and vehicles have begun hitting the street. Sadly, whereas many credible sources present correct information and figures, others use disinformation to confuse the general public, politicize the expertise, and sluggish EV market momentum. In consequence, the general public EV dialog has grow to be a scorching mess.
Shoppers deserve correct data. SACE and others, together with the federal authorities, media shops, and trade associations, are countering disinformation with information and private tales from EV drivers. Regardless of our essential truth-telling work, the actual fact stays that to know EVs totally, you need to expertise the expertise firsthand.
The excellent news is that I’ve but to fulfill an EV driver who doesn’t embrace the chance EVs present to remodel our problematic transportation system from the main reason for local weather air pollution, a detriment to public well being, and a danger to nationwide safety to a sector that leads America in the direction of a clear, safer, and safer future. I’m speaking hyperbolically right here: EVs scale back local weather air pollution, enhance public well being, and improve nationwide safety.
I’ve been driving EVs since 2013, counting on them to fulfill my mobility wants. I’m all the time pleased to share my expertise and reply questions truthfully. To that finish, listed here are just a few of my current EV-related observations on challenges and alternatives drivers and the market are dealing with and seizing as extra EVs arrive in driveways, bus depots, and distribution facilities throughout the nation.
Taking Cost: The Woes and Wahoos of Public EV Charging
As of June 30, EV drivers can cost at 23,691 publicly out there ports throughout the Southeast, an encouraging 31% progress. Nonetheless, at 0.36 ports per capita, our area nonetheless lags the nationwide common of 0.48 ports. And deploying EV charging is simply half the battle; sustaining the chargers and entry is the opposite half. This summer time, I skilled each the highs and lows of public EV charging throughout street journeys to Charlotte and Durham. Most not too long ago, I deliberate to go away my Tesla Mannequin Y at a Stage 2 charger whereas attending the NC Sustainable Fleets Convention & Expo close by. Excellent in idea. However not in actuality. Of the six publicly out there chargers, three stations had been occupied, two had been lifeless, and one was useful however in a handicap-only spot (props for equitable accessibility!). Although manageable, the expertise confirmed the significance of pairing quick charger community rollouts with dependable, ample Stage 2 vacation spot charging at locations like conference facilities, resorts, and sights. Learn extra.
Leveling Up: The Historical past of Asheville’s Newest Fleet Charging Station
Talking of Stage 2 chargers, Asheville’s newest fleet charging station by no means fails to make me smile! The corporate I co-founded, Brightfield Transportation Options, designed and put in this solar-integrated, grid-connected charging station method again in 2011. Again then, it was a showpiece public Stage 2 station with six ports within the coronary heart of downtown. The challenge was initially funded via a grant from the US Division of Power. The Metropolis of Asheville, as a challenge accomplice, leased Brightfield the land for $1/12 months for ten years, making a mannequin public-private partnership that was replicated throughout the state. Because the lease time period ended, the photo voltaic cover, underground, and electrical belongings had been donated to the Metropolis, which put in new Stage 2 chargers, turning the station into an modern fleet charging hub. I like this story as a result of it showcases the journey from then to now. Although a lot has modified, the EV trade stays a spot of entrepreneurship, expertise, and public-private partnership innovation! Learn extra.
Past Vehicles: The Significance of Greening All Types of Transportation
As SACE’s Electrical Transportation Director, I spend loads of time excited about automobiles. However a future free from fossil fuels means greening all modes of transportation, from investing in multimodal transportation to electrifying our garden tools. For me, few acts really feel as liberating as driving a motorcycle. Sadly, I nonetheless should get in my EV to drive to the closest grocery retailer. Although I take pleasure in entry to nice leisure driving, I can’t safely peddle my bike to the industrial heart of Weaverville (2 miles away) or Asheville (10 miles away) as a result of, for the previous 70+ years, planners and the state DOT have centered transportation investments on shifting automobiles as rapidly as attainable, leaving pedestrians and cyclists within the mud. This case is frequent in cities and cities throughout the Southeast and the nation. As America transitions to EVs, we should always not miss the chance to put money into secure multimodal transportation, together with bike lanes. In spite of everything, the bottom polluting, least costly, and most energy-secure mile is the one you don’t drive. Learn extra.
Need to be a part of the EV dialog? Let’s join on LinkedIn!
SACE’s Electrify the South program leverages analysis, advocacy, and outreach to speed up the equitable transition to electrical transportation throughout the Southeast. Go to ElectrifytheSouth.org to study extra and join with us.
