This story was published in the 13 Feb edition of WHISTLERtoday. Largely from a press release, but covers the main points of the charging stations in Whistler.
With a nod to the future, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has installed four new electric vehicle charging stations in the first level of the Whistler Conference Centre underground parking lot.
“The charging stations are a small step on a much larger journey toward sustainability; however, they demonstrate that Whistler is continuously willing to explore and support new opportunities for progressive energy and emissions management,” said Mayor Ken Melamed.
The stations allow electric vehicles to boost their batteries free of charge. It takes about four hours and 50 kilowatts of electricity to charge a typical electric car battery. At six cents per kilowatt, Dave Patterson, RMOW Manager of Park and Village Operations, said charging drivers for the power would cost more than giving it away for free.
Each charging station includes two plugs; one for overnight charges and the other for shorter term charges.
“I believe these charging stations help us on the road to sustainability. It’s another option to give locals and visitors,” Patterson said. “We are staying ahead of the curve as more and more electric vehicles come on the market.”
The electric car charging stations offer a service that Patterson said people will be looking for in the near future. Whistler is one of the first communities in British Columbia to offer electric vehicle charging stations. Electric cars have long been hailed as the future of driving yet they’ve been difficult to find on car dealership lots. This year, that will change.
Several big automakers plan to start introducing a range of electric vehicles in late 2010, giving the broader public its first chance to buy the vehicles that rely more on the electrical outlet than the gas pump. In the next several years, most major car companies plan to release vehicles that use electricity to get around.
GHGs from passenger vehicles represent approximately half of our community’s total emissions.
