IBEW Helps Bring Electric Car Future to Philly Area
October 26, 2011
The dream of gas-free transportation took one step closer to becoming a reality for Eastern Pennsylvania residents Oct. 14 with the unveiling of four electric vehicle charging stations at the King of Prussia mall.
The chargers were installed by members of Norristown Local 380 at no cost to mall owners. The machines will give drivers the opportunity to charge up their electric vehicles while they shop, helping to support the growing number of new models hitting the showroom floor this year, while expanding sales beyond their current niche market.
Says Mariana Gerzanych, chief executive of 350Green, a developer of electric charging stations, who worked with the IBEW to install the machines:
These convenient stations will help create the infrastructure necessary to insure the stability of the EV market.
The mass-marketed electric vehicle is – after multiple false starts – beginning to catch fire with consumers and the Big 3. As reported in the August 2011 issue of the Electrical Worker:
Last year, General Motors unveiled the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid that was named the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Ford is also getting into the market with its Focus Electric, a 100-percent gas-free car, which is expected to go on sale next year.
And while the sticker price on these new models are on the high end—the Volt goes for more than $40,000—a $7,500 tax credit, not to mention the long-term savings that come with gas-free transportation, is expected to boost affordability.
But making the electric car available to most Americans requires installing a massive network of private and public charging stations to support the vehicles.
Range anxiety remains one of the main obstacles to the industry’s growth because of an average range of 40 miles per charge.
Says Local 380 Business Manager David Schaaf:
Americans are asking two questions about the electric car. One: can I afford it? Two: is it practicable? Will it get me where I need to go? Building these facilities is a first step toward answering the second one.
The IBEW – along with NECA, auto makers and utilities – have a head start on the work installing a massive network of private and public energy charging stations, convening the first ever train-the-trainer program for the installation and maintenance of electrical charging stations last spring.
The Electrical Worker reports:
The gathering brought together IBEW members from more than 20 states, as well as NECA contractors and representatives from GM and Ford for a two-day intensive session.
With President Obama setting a goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015, industry-related infrastructure work could be a growth market for the IBEW in the near future.
Says Schaaf:
It has already started to take off in California, and I think it will go nationwide in the next four to five years. But it needs a kick-start from industry, labor and elected officials to make it happen.
Photo credit: General Motors
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