CarZin said:
I am meeting with Senator Hagan's liaison in about 3 weeks regarding electric car issues. One of the issues I will be talking about is the need to push for quick charge installations through-out the state as we as the nation (something more near and dear to the Leaf owners than the Volt owners, but important for the cause). I obviously have a lot more to say, but if any owners have something else you want brought up when I meet, please let me know.
As was brought up below, let's first make sure we get our terminology straight. I think when I've spoken to you in person you've used the term quick charge to mean L2 because from the Volt's perspective that is the quickest option. But in the LEAF community when we refer to quick charging we are talking about L3 charging. We should probably stick to the terms L1, L2 and L3 for that reason.
Anyway, a succinct list of points I would want discussed (and have brought up with a few politico types I have contacted are):
1) The need to do a study of real-life range in BEVs such as the LEAF with it's "100 mile" range on NC highways to determine what the practical highway (and ideally winter time) range is. Not trying to be LEAF centric necessarily but many of the BEV's coming out now also have practically identical range to the LEAF, so that seems to be the industry standard at this point in time.
2) A prioritized list of desirable travel corridors in NC should be created. We've suggested such a list in this thread, but further traffic studies/surveys should confirm that list.
3) Knowing the results of #1 and #2 a master plan should be developed for siting charging stations along NC highways at optimal distances. Whereas I didn't initially think that it would be very practical to travel between cities in NC in a BEV such as the LEAF, I'm now of the opinion that there are probably a few key sites where L3 charging stations would be able to enable most main travel corridors (and CarZin, where there's L3 there can easily be L2 as well!)
4) Study was to incentivize businesses to install charging facilities at key locations. For example take a look at what Cracker Barrel has done in TN. Even 30 minutes is a long time to wait at a rest area but if charging stations were located at businesses such as Cracker Barrel, it could be a win win.
5) Create a fair funding model for paying for electricity. I am concerned that businesses caught in the gas station paradigm where fillups cost $50+ will assume that it's fair to charge EVs similar prices for a "fillup". I don't think we mind paying for electricity, but only at fair prices.
6) Not really related to charging, but we need to come up with state-wide (or national) standards for signage and restrictions on EV parking. But we need to be careful NOT to go overboard with this like they did in California where you can be towed if you are not actively charging. This discourages plug sharing.
Let me know if you'd like any help either preparing for the meeting or assistance at the meeting itself! Thanks!