| Just a few years ago, the idea of electric cars | | | | charge up their vehicles. Some other places you |
| was met with complete skepticism. Oh, sure, | | | | might expect to see public charging stations for |
| people said, the technology is there to make the | | | | EVs include parking garages, mall parking lots, |
| cars, but drivers aren't going to buy a car that | | | | hotels and motels and restaurants. In fact, |
| can only drive 40 miles before you have to plug it | | | | anywhere that people park their cars for more |
| in. The argument hasn't changed much even as | | | | than half an hour is a good candidate for one or |
| ranges increased in mileage. Now that hybrid | | | | more public charging stations. |
| electric cars are in the mainstream -- and their | | | | You don't need a special plug and expensive |
| acceptance is growing with each passing day -- | | | | equipment to charge an electric car. |
| the conversation is turning to the next hurdle in | | | | - A lot of older information on the net tells you |
| the acceptance of electric cars. Where the heck | | | | that you need a special, dedicated plug and costly |
| do you plug them in to recharge? Here are five | | | | equipment to charge your EV. That's no longer |
| facts that help answer that question. | | | | true. The newer models of EVs in development |
| - Most electric vehicles will get all the charging | | | | can be charged on standard household current. |
| they need at home. | | | | The grid is already ramping up to support EV |
| - Many of the newest hybrid batteries can be | | | | traffic. |
| charged from a low-cost 220V outlet, similar to | | | | - California is leading the way in the US, with |
| the one used by any electric clothes dryer. Some | | | | charging stations installed along hundreds of miles |
| can even be charged from a 110V outlet. An | | | | of highway. In Vancouver, zoning regulations |
| overnight charge is more than enough to power | | | | require that new apartment construction must |
| most cars for their daily driving needs. | | | | include vehicle charging stations to support the |
| The driving range per overnight charge is up to | | | | tenants' need for EV charging. Private companies |
| 100 miles. | | | | are recognizing that they can attract business by |
| - The standard wisdom says that most electric | | | | offering charging for electric cars free or at |
| cars get about 40 miles to a charge -- far less | | | | nominal cost, and fast-charging stations - stations |
| mileage than most drivers typically drive in a day. | | | | that can recharge a battery in 30 minutes or less |
| However, most of the newer vehicles actually get | | | | -- are no longer a pie-in-the-sky dream. |
| between 70 miles and 100 miles to a full charge - | | | | The newest developments in electric vehicle |
| about double the daily driving mileage of the | | | | technology have overturned some of the most |
| typical driver. | | | | commonly held myths about the barriers to the |
| Many businesses are planning to install charging | | | | wide adoption of electronic vehicles. As more |
| stations on site for customer convenience. | | | | people are inspired to buy EVs like the Chevy |
| - Whole Foods and McDonalds are just two high | | | | Volt and the Nissan Leaf, they'll find that the |
| profile examples of companies that see the | | | | infrastructure they need to support their new |
| benefits of making it convenient for customers to | | | | cars is already growing to meet their needs. |