Comments on: Planning Begins for Electric Vehicles in DC http://www.thehillishome.com/2010/01/planning-begins-for-electric-vehicles-in-dc/ News and information for Washington DC's Capitol Hill communities Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:54:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Sharee Lawler http://www.thehillishome.com/2010/01/planning-begins-for-electric-vehicles-in-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1372 Sharee Lawler Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:34:15 +0000 http://www.thehillishome.com/?p=6104#comment-1372 They're quoting in the range of $25-30k. But the car will be loaded - nav, leather, etc. (no sunroof, though, because of its drag on mpg) - so it should have all the bells and whistles, and you get to choose from around 4 colors. The rep I spoke to was noncommittal about the Leaf's nationwide roll out. With the 5 pilot cities starting in November, it could be mid-2011 before we see them on the east coast. They’re quoting in the range of $25-30k. But the car will be loaded – nav, leather, etc. (no sunroof, though, because of its drag on mpg) – so it should have all the bells and whistles, and you get to choose from around 4 colors. The rep I spoke to was noncommittal about the Leaf’s nationwide roll out. With the 5 pilot cities starting in November, it could be mid-2011 before we see them on the east coast.

]]> By: Kate McFadden http://www.thehillishome.com/2010/01/planning-begins-for-electric-vehicles-in-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1364 Kate McFadden Sat, 30 Jan 2010 07:47:34 +0000 http://www.thehillishome.com/?p=6104#comment-1364 What's the price point like Sharee? When should they be available nationally? What’s the price point like Sharee? When should they be available nationally?

]]> By: Sharee Lawler http://www.thehillishome.com/2010/01/planning-begins-for-electric-vehicles-in-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1362 Sharee Lawler Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:54:47 +0000 http://www.thehillishome.com/?p=6104#comment-1362 Nissan is working with their pilot cities now (all West Coast spots like Portland and San Diego, plus their HQ in Tennessee) to work on models for issues of location and who pays for the install. They're expecting to roll out to the first cities in November, so we should see some implementation soon. To me, in the city it is less practical to have individual stations - which can run from $250-750 depending on voltage - and more for ones that are outdoor rated - when there are places with underutilized parking capacity on various days and times of day that could be used. There are some obvious spots, it just depends on convenience and power (voltage). For instance, I could see parking in the lot at NY Ave NW, just north of Chinatown, and plugging in to charge up while catching dinner and a movie. RFK and Nats stadium have tons of unused parking most of the time and are near metros. We've been talking about getting the Leaf for a while now, so I've clearly geeked out on this a bit. Nissan is working with their pilot cities now (all West Coast spots like Portland and San Diego, plus their HQ in Tennessee) to work on models for issues of location and who pays for the install. They’re expecting to roll out to the first cities in November, so we should see some implementation soon. To me, in the city it is less practical to have individual stations – which can run from $250-750 depending on voltage – and more for ones that are outdoor rated – when there are places with underutilized parking capacity on various days and times of day that could be used. There are some obvious spots, it just depends on convenience and power (voltage). For instance, I could see parking in the lot at NY Ave NW, just north of Chinatown, and plugging in to charge up while catching dinner and a movie. RFK and Nats stadium have tons of unused parking most of the time and are near metros. We’ve been talking about getting the Leaf for a while now, so I’ve clearly geeked out on this a bit.

]]> By: Nichole Remmert http://www.thehillishome.com/2010/01/planning-begins-for-electric-vehicles-in-dc/comment-page-1/#comment-1360 Nichole Remmert Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:59:05 +0000 http://www.thehillishome.com/?p=6104#comment-1360 This is great, Sharee. Back when I wore suits to work, this was one of the issues, as part of a larger infrastructure question, that I worked on. Every time I sat down with an automotive company, a power company, or a "SmartGrid infrastructure expert" I'd ask them them questions related to the practicality of EV ownership in a city like DC and it was also one that they stumbled on. No one could say who should pay to install charging stations or how it works when you park on the street rather than in a driveway or garage. I'm not Ms. Green by any stretch of the imagination, but it's nice to know that there is finally a move to start thinking about real world barriers to implementation. This is great, Sharee. Back when I wore suits to work, this was one of the issues, as part of a larger infrastructure question, that I worked on. Every time I sat down with an automotive company, a power company, or a “SmartGrid infrastructure expert” I’d ask them them questions related to the practicality of EV ownership in a city like DC and it was also one that they stumbled on. No one could say who should pay to install charging stations or how it works when you park on the street rather than in a driveway or garage.

I’m not Ms. Green by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s nice to know that there is finally a move to start thinking about real world barriers to implementation.

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