Two new electric vehicle charging stations have been added in Westport. They’re at Staples High School, just to the left of the fieldhouse entrance (nearest the cafeteria). A sign at the parking lot entrance points the way.
The new EV charging stations at Staples High School.
Those are in addition to the ones just installed at the train station, in the newly configured parking lot.
There are other EV charging stations in town too, including near police headquarters.
For several maps — none of which seem comprehensive or up-to-date — click here.
Who pays for this service?
These are SemaConnect chargers (http://www.semaconnect.com/) which are internet connected. I haven’t seen these particular ones before, but to use it, you generally have to sign up on their network and link your credit card, and you are charged either per KW or by the half hour/hour when plugged in.
Pretty sure it’s our bankrupt state. While cutting services for children, the poor and disabled, they give away free electricity to affluent folks with electric cars.
I assume that the Town will be providing me with free gasoline in the near future. These stations should have electric meters on them that take credit cards do the user pays, not the tax payers.
They DO track the electricity that is used, and for this type of charger, the user typically pays per KW or by the half-hour/hour.
Electric vehicle owners charge at home because it takes so long.
— and so owners pay for installation and electricity, obviously.
The two new charging stations at the Westport Library – which are situated right at the entrance – take up two prime parking spaces. These are spaces which were often taken by elderly patrons – whom I have observed tend not to purchase high cost EVs. The optics make it appear like a vanity exercise.
in most cases, the reason for positioning charging stations near a building is due to cost- rather than tear up a section of a parking lot to run the cable out to the far end of a parking lot where it would be out of the way, it is MUCH cheaper to place them closer to where the electricity already is. It has nothing to do with “vanity”.
As for “high cost EVs” you can get a used Nissan Leaf for under $10k, which has plenty of range for an elderly person who never drives very far.
Electricity in Connecticut is primarily produced by either natural gas-fired or nuclear powered generators – http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=CT#tabs-4
I’m not totally sure how either are more environmentally sensitive than my traditional gas powered autos which is why until I can figure out how to produce enough solar power to fuel my car – I’m sitting in the sidelines.
Well said, David. By way of possible explanation, I suspect that, to some degree, “good intentions” play a role in all of this. Results appear to have largely fallen out of fashion.
Better than coal.
Much better, and I get the whole “foreign oil” argument. But natural gas fracking is causing such a homegrown environmental disaster, until it’s the sun or the wind I’m not making any major investment.
Interesting guesses to my original question but does anyone know the answer? And who pays for buying and installing these charging stations?
The “host” buys and pays for installation. More chargers installed at a station=cheaper to install. Electricians do the job.
A small mention on Westportnow.com indicated that the purchase and installation of the chargers at the library and high school were funded by CT DEEP grants. It’s unclear whether they were fully funded, or required town matching as the DEEP website indicates that available grants pay for “up to” 100% of the costs.
http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v3/comments/library_adds_electric_vehicle_chargers/
The issue of electric cars is the loss of tax revenues to maintain and fix our roads. State roads and highways are paid by the gaosline tax. Those driving electric cars get away with no helping to pay for the roads and highways.
Eventually there will need to be a solution to this mounting problem. With lower gasoline prices and therefore lower transportation taxes collected, and now ‘no transportation’ taxes paid by those using electric vehicles, the roads and bridges and highways will suffer.
Some states have an EV tax (Georgia for example is $75/year, tied to the registration/renewal of the car). Seems like CT should implement something similar.
Brian. Thanks for your reply. The growth of electric
Vehicles will bring to raise a big issue in CT since the state pays for roads and bridges using the gala one tax.
As a taxpayer, you are subsidizing both the purchase of the electric car thru tax benefits, while also paying for the roads that the electric car owner is not paying anything towards. So you are paying twice.
From the website:
The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) offers rebates of up to $5,000 for Connecticut residents who purchase or lease a new eligible battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric or fuel cell electric vehicle.
There are currently over 20 eligible vehicles available and the list continues to grow as manufacturers release new models.
As revenue declines in CT and gasoline taxes also
decline, the state will need to rethink the tax credits for purchasing an elected car (regressive if you think about it) and also implement an electric car tax to
Make the costs to maintain CT rods fair to all.
Not sure they have installed them yet at Harding?
Yet, Dick’s important question goes unanswered. Who is paying for all of this?
Great question. Could it be a double insult-the owners not paying to help our roads bridges and highways and the town paying for their electricity?
What makes you think “owners” don’t pay taxes?
Building owners are now required by law to install charging stations.
Electricity is cheap, so until electric vehicles become the norm charging stations don’t “charge” for these quick top ups.
Be a little more forward thinking.
Nancy. Your life must truly be sad that you need to comment about things you don’t know or don’t understand. You are one sad individual.
The issue we face in CT are deteriorating state roads highways and bridges. The state uses gasoline taxes for transportation infrustrure needs. Anybody buying gas in CT is helping to improve the roads.
You are just a sad person who needs to comment. Maybe you should try and get into Canadian needs
And wants and stay away from westport. Might help build your esteem.
For anyone who has bought an electric car, they get the benefit of driving on state roads, etc without having to help pay for them. Eventually CT will have to find a solution. One that we have heard that is being investigated and I am sure is a controversial subject are tolls.
So here we have, potentially, the taxpayers Inn wrstport funding the electricity for the electric cars and also watching as these electric car owners pay no gas taxes to help with the roads.
Too bad this is too difficult for you to understand.
Please go away.
PS-I was sure Dick would enjoy my post
Bart, how many electric vehicles can you count in your town today?
Perhaps you are over reacting?
Your infrastructure problems began decades ago, nothing to do with the advent of electric vehicles.
Bart baby….right on in ALL respects. I don’t understand why some folks just don’t get it.
Mr. shuldman – there you go again!
What? Bart’s spelling out the inconvenient truth again?
The problem with both Congress and state legislatures over the past few decades is they have a habit of passing “feel-good” legislation without thinking through the long term costs or possible unintended consequences. Arguably, much of the green related legislation falls into that category as does the recent bi-lateral passage of legislation allowing lawsuits against the Saudi Arabian government.
Canada is happy to share energy.
huh?
Just a calming message before next week’s “Brexit” scenario.
Jerry. I am watching the nonsense being in the CT Spending Cap Commission. It is unbelievable to watch as the legislators want to add langauage and have no idea the effect or even how it would be implemented. Not one feels there will be consequences. And when I ask detailed questions, they just shrug it off and not care. Jerry it is sad to watch.
Our own state rep is on the commisssion. You think he would care and want to get into the details so he protects his constituents. Not him–he just sits there and accepts what the Chairman says. It is so disappointing.
The state is in serious financial trouble as they gave away so many benefits and nobody asked how the state would pay for it. And now they talk about doing the same.