Friday, December 7, 2012

Someone might get a CHARGE out of Media, PA…….and maybe their vehicle will too.


Charging Station
If you have a newer Toyota Prius, Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, a stylish Tesla automobile, or any vehicle (i.e scooter) that utilizes a J1772charging port , you’ll get a CHARGE out of Media, PA.  As electrifying as that is, it’s true.  We here in Media have had our own charging station located just behind the Media firehouse for almost a year now.  Heck, we even have solar panels on the building providing a portion of the electricity! That’s the good news.

Real-Time status update on smartphone
So, what’s the bad?  Truthfully, is seems demand for such service just isn’t there yet.  Even with smart technology and phone apps that can show local charging stations, current use and charging times; it still doesn’t trump the real world factors of cost and convenience.  What would take hours to top off a half charged EV automobile, would take just minutes to do a similar fill up at a regular gas station.  Except for maybe the Prius (EV), I see more exotic Italian automobiles in town then I do Chevy Volts.  And I still haven’t seen a Nissan Leaf, Fisker Karma or Tesla vehicle anywhere. 

Until the price of EV cars becomes competitive with hybrid/gasoline types, more charging stations are available and charging goes from hours to minutes; we may continue to see Media’s charging station as a rarely used facility.  A brilliant concept, well executed and implement, but no sizable market able to take advantage of the service.  But wait, would municipal vehicles make sense and utilize this service better?  It's understood that the initial cost is higher but would the ROI (return on investment) make sense to have maybe one vehicle in either the fire or police departments powered by by electric?
BMW C-EVO
Make no mistake, Media has other priorities that will take precedence over the possibility of electric vehicles, however, now may be the time to plan a head for such a project.  By then, the technology and acceptance of these vehicles may have matured to acceptable and cost effective levels. 
Honda EV-NEO

 If I can work out a deal with Blink (Media’s charging station provider) and maybe get my hands on a BMW C Evolution or Honda EV-NEO to demo, perhaps we can raise further awareness for this capability.


Posted by at

11 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 7, 2012 at 9:56 AM

    Real reporting, I'm down

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 7, 2012 at 3:45 PM

    Perfect example of a TOTAL WASTE of time, money and resources.

    Great idea Media council members next time before you fall all over yourselves putting in a charging station NO ONE USES how about a little real world research if in fact it is needed. Did anyone research if this was needed or was it simply a GRANT grab (you know free $ that we all pay for) by the Boro Council for a stupid photo op being GREEN. The sky is not falling and the world is not ending, 3rd St. is not getting a bridge (one way or two way) but keep on keeping on with all of this GREEN crap and you Media will be broke. How about a tele-port station next in the Boro so we can beam each other place to place then we would not even need a car be it green or gas. The reason Tedman you don't see any of the cars that would use the charging station is simply do to the fact they are all over priced pieces of crap. How bout you Dr. Stein leader of the environment where is your silly hybrid wind up charge up car? Or you Kent "Keeper of the Park" why not put the charging station on the 3rd St. Bridge -- nothing going on down there either. (But one guesses that is the way you want to keep it).
    Media Council leading the league in stupid spending and comical decisions.
    I for one can not wait till Paul Robinson becomes the next President and we finally have someone who knows what Media needs in charge. Instead of a trained listener and problem solver who has accomplished sqadouche.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 7, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    I saw a brand new Firsker Karma parked on State Street the other day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 8, 2012 at 7:32 AM

      I saw Santa at the courthouse. And I think I saw Bigfoot at Deal's.....

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 8, 2012 at 8:22 AM

      That soon will be like seeing the Lorax. Fisker has not built a car since July-- Fisker cut its staff half in January and Fisker can not find anywhere to purchase batteries since its supplier A123 Systems is in the midst of bankruptcy. More than likely brought on after Consumer Reports reported the battery failed during testing and A123 issued a recall to repair or replace all Fisker batteries.
      After getting 192 million from Obama's Energy Dept Fisker has sold less than 2,000 Karma's. Fisker is now hoping for 529 million more for development of its more modestly priced hybrid the Atlantic but they have missed several progress deadlines and the funds are on hold by the Energy Dept. But hey at least whoever owns the one you saw on State St. won't have to wait in line to charge it in Media on the way to fantasy land.

      Delete
  4. phillyboyDecember 7, 2012 at 7:21 PM

    I think the electric vehicle charging station is really cool. So what if there is not enough use yet. Can't the envelope be pushed a little bit? Why on earth would anybody ridicule this? Media is a hip, edgy, sophisticated town. That's part of the allure of Media. If that's not your cup of tea, dude, Johnstown and Tyrone are calling your name. I mean, heck, maybe "Anonymous" would like to elimiate the trolley too. Does that doggone ripoff trolley get in your way on State Street? Let's scrap the trolley and all get Ford Excursions, then we'll be set. Reckon we can even build a racetrack on the edge of town for the Media 500.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 8, 2012 at 8:26 AM

      @ Phillyboy: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. There are a bunch of people who like to chime in on Media issues who don't live in the borough. I'd love to see if they're actually in Tyrone or Johnstown.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousDecember 8, 2012 at 8:33 AM

    Kudos to Tedman for writing this column. Lord knows I don't agree with Tedman and many other Rs on here on a lot of issues, but I like the charging station idea. Governments need to lead on these types of issues. If more places had charging stations, more people would be willing to buy an electric car. If more people buy electric cars, more automakers start making more and better electric cars. Most Americans won't buy an electric car until they can get one that goes 100 mph, can charge up in 5 minutes, be around the size of a full size sedan, and travel around 350 miles on a charge. Towns like Media taking the lead on making charging stations available help that effort.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 8, 2012 at 4:42 PM

    God bless the posters ridiculing the electric charging stations and anything remotely environmentally more friendly than fossil fuels. When the oil runs out (regardless of whether or not we "drill baby drill!"), I hope your vehicles are able to be powered by your own arrogance, delusion, and hubris.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousDecember 10, 2012 at 2:34 PM

    Arrogance, delusion, and hubris use Google translate to see how to say that in Chinese.
    The Chinese just bought A123 battery out of bankruptcy and will now be supplying all new batteries for these cars.
    So now the Chinese own most of our national debt and will be selling batteries for hybrid cars wrapped in fake concern for the environment to silly left leaning Al Gore believing the sky is falling the Earth is warming morons. 2013 truly is the year of the snake.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousDecember 10, 2012 at 9:26 PM

    Global warming or no global warming, fossil fuels are a finite resource. If you don't have a plan B, you're screwed. So, talk about the Chinese buying battery companies and owning our debt has nothing to do with that fact.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)