Kane panel powering up for influx of electric vehicles likely in future

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Donahue also suggested that the ordinance deal with a way to address “range anxiety.” This phenomenon is the concern among electric car owners over how long their current charge will last.

Matt Brennan - SUNTIMES - September 1, 2011

How many EV drivers have actually been interviewed about "range anxiety?" Why do we only seem to have opinions from those who haven't ever even driven one? --Ed.

The future for electric vehicles in Kane County is now.

Major automobile manufacturers are rolling out plans for increasing the number of electric vehicles in production as soon as 2012, and the Chicago region factors heavily into their marketing plans.

Kane County officials are aware that infrastructure plans need to catch up. There need to be places for people to charge their vehicles, and a plan for dealing with the increase in power consumption, officials said.

On Thursday, the county began an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure task force to deal with these demands.

“Currently there’s a lack of infrastructure,” task force Chairman Mike Donahue, R-Geneva, said. “I believe it’s better to get out in front of this.”

The task force is formed with representatives from several related industries, and several Kane County municipalities. Donahue said that he wants to have an ordinance in place to deal with guidelines, standards and placement for electric vehicle infrastructure by May of 2012.

Task force members were given the chance to discuss the strategy. ComEd representative Dan Gabel mentioned that the power requirements are so high to charge an automobile, that having several on one transformer could... [Read More]

[herm]

Politicians of all stripes like to spend money, it creates jobs you know. Perhaps they need to do a study with a fleet of 200 cars driven by public servants.

[xcel]

Hi Sean:

Similarly, why are politicos throwing money at EV projects like there is an unlimited supply of the stuff. If it is a business taking a risk that demand will eventually be there to make a profit, that is one thing but government supplying an infrastructure for early adopters only to see the technology possibly change within a decade seems like throwing good money after bad.

Taking a BEV across the country is not feasible even with Level 3 charging so it will continue to be a locally evoked build out. That said, if 80 + miles is not enough for a local RT commute, said BEV owner purchased the wrong car.

It is called a 120V outlet and even that will charge the 40-mile volt to full in < 10-hours. Overnight a LEAF on 120 and she’ll smile at you as well.

Wayne

[herm]

There are concerns that so many programs for infrastructure and free chargers will kill any chance of private industry stepping up and providing the service.. such as eVgo and Chargepoint.. there is no chance of competition against free government money. Those companies already have a tough time competing with the utility company based from the 120V socket in your garage.

What government could do is require new construction to plan for future EV upgrades, run wiring to every parking spot at a mall or condo, pre-wire every new home garage for 240V, streamline permitting etc.. the same way it regulates the design of parking lots now.