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Electric Vehicle Charging Stations -- For What?

6/22/2011

5 Comments

 
From The Bellingham Herald:

As electric vehicles become more popular, Whatcom County cities along Interstate 5 are coming up with rules on where the charging stations can be installed.

With Bellingham between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., "we feel somewhat of a regional obligation" to usher in charging stations, said Ryan Nelson, resource conservation management specialist at Bellingham Public Works.

Blaine has already approved changes to its code outlining what type of charging stations can go where. Ferndale leaders will consider changes for their city Monday, June 20.   (
Read more...)

Now, the question that WE need to ask is, "where's the demand?"  WE don't see very many electric vehicles on the road, so why is government in such a hurry to "usher in" these facilities?  When gas powered vehicles first came on the scene, private enterprise stepped up to put gas stations along highways, and individual motorists had to make sure they brought the necessary fuel for the long stretches between refueling stops. If there's a demand, the necessary service stations will pop up as needed.  Of course there's always the risk that one might end up at a location not sanctioned by one of our self-appointed control freaks, but WE digress.

Another question you might want to ask your local control freak is why they're so all-fired anxious to get people to switch to coal-fired vehicles.  That's right, much of the electricity in this country is generated from coal fired power plants -- and that's not likely to change rapidly without politically unfeasible social upheaval.  So switching to electric vehicles isn't going to do much, if anything, to reduce our CO2 footprint*.  And batteries are really nasty for the environment.  WE're sure American ingenuity and know-how could do much better if the government would just step aside and stop micro-managing us. 

*premise not accepted that reducing it would have any measurable effect on anything, but used here for the sake of argument.
5 Comments
Problem
6/26/2011 02:49:48 am

there is little that makes sense until you leave behind the notion that "Earthers" are actually supporting the environment. They are actualy deconstructionists , go to transition Whatcom to appreciate what these folks represent. They believe in de industrialization , how can that work to help the environment as we know the greatest polutters are third world countries. ?
Well, their answer is to change our world from a growth and progress based people into a museum world of 1850.
I don't recognize them as having a single quality that built the greatest country in the world . They seem to be devoid of any sense of history, they are the people who once their utopia is an acknowledged failure they will accept the leadership of a tyrant to accomplish their goals. Weak-minded and blindly idealistic.

Reply
Ron Buchinski
7/22/2011 04:47:32 am

Will there be a cost to the users of this service (I-5 car chargers)?

Reply
WE Editors
7/22/2011 05:47:02 pm

Excellent question. WE dredged, and found the actual state legislation, 2009 House Bill 1481 "Electric Vehicles." It's available to read (you'll have to cut and paste this link into your browser)

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1481-S2.PL.pdf

And, if you go to this second page,

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1481&year=2009

... at the bottom click on "Fiscal Notes." When those load, select the last one (sorry we can’t link that for you), and you can read through all the reports that supposedly justified this mandate. Convincing? Decide for yourself, but we’re not impressed.

One thing WE did learn when we researched this topic: In a very recent federal government report, we discovered that no more than 2% of all vehicles are expected to be electric by Year 2020. And, the feds say most of those will be located in dense urban areas like New York City and Los Angeles.

Was this bill -- and this mandate for statewide infrastructure -- a public need, necessary, or appropriate? WE don't think so. But this is being implemented anyway.

Reply
Madeleine Baines
7/25/2011 04:28:03 am

Thanks WE for researching the charging stations. Try as I might I find no common sense answer to this push to electric cars, to the clamor from the environmental community, who, if they are to be believed, must support coal burning and pollution. How else do they think these tinpot cars are going to run their ridiculously few miles? This is another social engineering boondoggle at the expense of taxpayers by extortion. I'll listen to them when they market a reliable car that runs on water or air. Until that time, gasoline power wins hands down.

Reply
as seen on tv store locations link
8/13/2013 06:05:31 pm

I have to agree with you. There is no need for supply unless there is a demand. When automobiles were introduced in the early 1900s, a lot of private companies opened up gas stations. I don’t know what the intention of the government is right now.

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