REPORT: Vancouver considering mandatory electric vehicle plugs for some new parking lots
Hydrogen cars in Vancouver - click above for high-res gallery
Vancouver, British Columbia makes a big deal of promoting hydrogen-powered vehicles. But the city is not letting the potential of H2 get in the way of other gasoline alternatives. In fact, local blog The Hook is reporting that Vancouver is considering making electric vehicle charging outlets mandatory in any parking lots for newly-constructed multi-family buildings. The idea is to get the infrastructure ready now and to help make PHEVs and BEVs an easier choice, once they become more widely available.
Specifically, Vancouver would require that 10 percent of the stalls in the buildings would need to have a 240V charging port. City officials said the mandate would add 0.5 percent to the total cost of a building. A local EV advocate told The Hook that, while the move is admirable, a better goal would be to put plugs in all stalls. "If you're building a building to last 50 years, it's ridiculous to put in only enough plugs to last you five," John Stonier of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association said. Thanks to Alvin S. for the tip!
[Source: The Hook]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yanquetino 11:14AM (7/07/2009)
Actually, it would probably be better to install the circuits and wiring for all the stalls, but not the plugs --yet. The 240V current is not likely to change through the years, but I doubt we can say the same for the "standard" plugs and receptacles themselves. Also, until they are all being used to charge EVs, why have the outlets simply sitting there, tempting vandals?
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BlackbirdHighway 12:05PM (7/07/2009)
The other 90% are going to get hydrogen dispensers! Ha, ha.
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ONeil 1:34AM (7/08/2009)
I certainly hope they can manage 110 as well. My scooter charges on 110.
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Beavker 3:06PM (7/07/2009)
I think they may discover the outlets are a lot easier than dealing with that hydrogen. Maybe Hydrogen Extended Range EV's...you can charge for those short drives, and still get that Hydrogen at the pumps.
Regardless, kudos for the forward thinking.
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Chris M 4:02PM (7/07/2009)
The cost of electrical wiring and electrical outlets really isn't very high, even for weatherproof 240 volt setups. It will certainly cost a lot less than H2 fueling. I suspect that they will allow metering, which should make it an appealing source of income for landlords and parking lot owners.
But the real news is that Vancouver was the #2 city for Hydrogen Hype after LA, when EVs flourish there, will the H2 hype finally die down?
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