Ford Motor Co. is planning to introduce a line of electric vehicles here in Chicago, Illinois, beginning first by the end of this year, 2010! Isn't that exciting to hear? Their new model lines will include the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van, the Focus Electric passenger car, and a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Only the plug-in hybrid, apparently still without a name, will require gasoline to run.The other two will not. Is that exciting or what?
One problem is the sufficient availability of electric charging stations for these electic vehicles. Currently, the city of Chicago plans to begin installing, through a U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities grant, about 100 charging stations by the end of this year. According to Ford Motor Co., about 300 charging stations around the country are being installed on a monthly basis (who knew that?). Ford would like to see in a city such as Chicago the availability of a charging station within a 2 to 3 mile radius for a consumer. And it would like to see a majority of those stations be "Level Three" stations, which are able to fully charge a vehicle in less than two hours. A "Level Two" charging station can take three times longer to charge a vehicle. A Level Three station can cost up to $50,000 while only $2,000 is required for a Level Two station.
Another problem is deciding how to regulate the charging stations and how much, if at all, to charge the consumer for charging their vehicles. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) hopes to deal with this and related questions by the spring of 2011. According to Manny Flores, chairman of the ICC and former Chicago alderman, the ICC's top priority is maintaining the safety and reliability of the electric grid. But private companies have already started to install charging stations in the Chicago area. They are planning to charge by the "session" as opposed to charging by the kilowatt hour. For instance, InterPark parking company has installed 22 charging stations so far, with two at each of its 10 Loop parking garages, and two at its garage at the corner of Ohio and Rush streets. The company is giving out free charges until the end of the year. Again, is that great or what?
Still another problem is the fact that a colder climate hampers the battery charge for an electric vehicle, and here in Chicago we all know about a colder climate. But, as we also have seen, there have been a number of unsual warm spells during the winter months, and if one tends to see a correlation between this phenomenon and the scientific predictions of climate change, as I personally do, then one can expect to see increasing warming trends during winter months as a continuing pattern. Thus, there should be less cold days to worry about the electric car battery not holding its charge well. And, by driving an electric vehicle, one will certainly be helping to draw down the carbon emissions which are contributing to climate change to begin with. So all you soon-to-be-purchasing new car folks, please, pretty please,consider the prospects and the benefits of purchasing an all-electric vehicle for your personal and commercial needs. As it was expressed in the commercial from years' past, "You'll LIKE IT!" Thanks!
The information for this post was drawn solely from an article in the Chicago Tribune, Saturday, October 30, Business Section, page 10, written and reported by Julie Wernau, Tribune reporter. Reasonable and truthful attempts were made to paraphrase any statements or sentences that otherwise would have been too literally close to the original sentence in the fine article by Ms. Wernau. All due attributions are given to the reporter, Julie Wernau, and to the Chicago Tribune.
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