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2017 Update: Geographic Distribution of DC Fast Chargers

September 12, 2017September 12, 2017 Lanny

SAE Combo, CHAdeMO & Tesla Supercharger network comparison. Sept. 12, 2017

Last December when the first Chevy Bolts were being delivered in California, I wondered if it was possible to drive a Bolt EV from coast to coast using SAE Combined Charging Standard (CCS) fast charging stations. I went to the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center (AFDC) website to see the locations of CCS chargers in the US.

I reported that, as of December 15, 2016, there were 884 CCS charging locations listed but they were mostly concentrated on the east and west coasts with some concentrated islands sprinkled around the middle of the country.

While the number of CCS charger sites has grown about 32% in the past nine months, there hasn’t been much progress in distributing the CCS or CHAdeMO fast chargers along the main travel routes to enable long distance travel through the middle of the country.

As of September 12, 2017 there are 357 Tesla Supercharger locations (2,492 outlets) in the US according to the AFDC Station Locator. There are 1,677 CHAdeMO locations (2,045 outlets) and 1,166 SAE Combo locations (1,413 outlets) in the Station Locator. These numbers include both public and private stations. Read More …

Tesla Superchargers Planned for DC Area Through 2018

September 11, 2017December 20, 2017 Lanny

Tesla “Find Us” Supercharger map as of 09/11/2017

Tesla has updated their Supercharger map on their “Find Us” page to include planned locations that are expected to be built through the end of 2018.

Here are the sites planned for the DC area. Tesla says that exact timing and specific locations may vary. Tesla Find Us Map Link.

Target opening by end of 2017
Beltsville, MD
Gaithersburg, MD (open)
Halethorpe, MD
National Harbor, MD (open)
Fairfax, VA
Tysons, VA
Washington, DC

Target opening by end of 2018
Annapolis, MD
Baltimore, MD
Bethesda, MD
Elkridge, MD
Frederick, MD
Greenbelt, MD
Arlington, VA
Gainesville, VA
Columbia Heights, DC
Washington NE, DC
Washington SE, DC

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Aberdeen & La Vale, Maryland Superchargers Open

September 1, 2017 Lanny

Just in time for the Labor Day holiday weekend, the Aberdeen, Maryland Supercharger and the La Vale, Maryland Supercharger are open. They appeared on the Tesla Navigation screen as well as the Tesla “Find Us” web page today, Friday, September 1, 2017.

Aberdeen Supercharger is at the Maryland House Travel Center on I-95 and has 8 stalls.

La Vale Supercharger is located at a Sheetz convenience store off I-68 with 8 stalls.

A number of other Tesla Superchargers are under construction in the Mid-Atlantic and are anticipated to open soon.

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Lewes, Delaware Charging Station Ribbon Cutting

August 31, 2017 Lanny

The Lewes, Delaware Board of Public Works, along with the City of Lewes and Avatar Instruments, hosted a celebration of electric vehicles on Monday, Aug. 28, 2017. The festivities began with an enthusiastic crowd and about a dozen electric cars gathering at the EV charging stations on Schley Ave. in Lewes. EV drivers had come from as far as Philadelphia, Northern Virginia and Columbia, Maryland to participate.

Around noon, the electric vehicles were escorted by Lewes Police on a cruise through town and along the beach to the town’s second set of charging stations at Otis Smith Park on Savannah Rd. where Mayor Theodore W. Becker along with Darrin Gordon, General Manager, Lewes Board of Public Works, officials from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Paul and Debra Evalds from Avatar Instruments cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the new EV charging stations.

Video of EV Cruise and Ribbon Cutting. Read More …

Montgomery County Updates EV Charging Signs

August 27, 2017August 27, 2017 Lanny

Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Division of Parking (MCDOT), which manages the operation and enforcement of Electric Vehicle charging stations in all County owned and operated public parking facilities, has changed the signs at their EV charging stations to clearly state that the spots are for charging. The new signs are in response to customer feedback that electric vehicles were parking in the spaces and not actually plugging in and charging.

The previous signs stated, “No Parking Except Electric Vehicles” which may not have communicated clearly enough for some that the spots are intended for using the charging station and not just for parking an EV. Read More …

Breezewood, PA Supercharger is Officially Open

August 25, 2017February 18, 2021 Lanny

The Tesla Supercharger in Breezewood, Pennsylvania is open. The eight-stall Supercharger station is located at a Sheetz convenience store on the Lincoln Highway (Rt. 30) near the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-70.

Construction was reported by PlugInSites on May 29th when we spotted the Tesla equipment and excavation at the site. Breezewood is a welcome addition to the Tesla charging network and fills a gap between the six-stall Somerset Supercharger and the Harrisburg Supercharger. It also helps enable north-south travel in Pennsylvania towards the State College area. Read More …

‪Tesla Supercharger Coming to Martinsburg, WV‬

August 18, 2017 Lanny

Last night I got a text from my friend, Rick Rohn, saying that he had found a Tesla Supercharger in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Wait a minute, the Tesla Find Us page has nothing "coming soon" marked anywhere near there.

Rick is an awesome EV advocate and has helped expand the charging infrastructure in the eastern panhandle of the Mountaineer State. Rick and his wife Stacie are also long distance EV adventurers who travel in their Kia Soul EV and before that, a Nissan LEAF. Rick can practically smell a new EV charging station being installed. This one snuck by him until it was brought to his attention by a friend on Facebook. What's even more amazing is that this Supercharger was being built across the street from his shop. Rick had a great sense of humor about this one escaping his detection, saying, "I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, ha! ha!"

The under construction Martinsburg Supercharger is at Sheetz #220, 1465 Edwin Miller Blvd, Martinsburg, WV 25401.

(photo by Rick Rohn)

EV Cruise & Grand Opening of Lewes, DE Charging Stations

August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 Lanny

Ribbon Cutting and EV Cruise on Monday, August 28, 2017 at 11:00 AM.

EV drivers are being invited to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony and short EV Cruise to officially open the Tesla and universal EV charging stations in Lewes, Delaware.

The tentative schedule for Monday, August 28, 2017:
11:00 Meet at charging stations at Lewes Board of Public Works facility at 225 Schley Avenue, Lewes, DE 19958.

11:15 Begin Electric Vehicle Cruise planned to loop through town and end at Otis Smith Park EV Charging Stations.

11:45 Assemble at Otis Smith Park, 454 E. Savannah Rd, Lewes, DE 19958.

12:00 Lewes Board of Public Works ribbon cutting with local, state, and national dignitaries. Local and regional media will also be there.
Read More …

Special Sign Needed to Enforce Rhode Island Anti-ICEing Law

July 23, 2017July 23, 2017 Lanny

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an “anti-ICEing” bill into law on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Bill H6302 prohibits a vehicle from occupying a specially designated parking space at an EV charging station unless it is connected to the charging equipment.

In order to be enforceable, the charging space must be indicated with a sign identifying it as an electric vehicle charging station only for electric vehicle charging along with an indication that it is subject to a parking violation. The law will be enforceable on public and private property as applicable but only where designated by signage meeting all the specified requirements.

The penalty is a fine of $85.00 and the law goes into effect immediately.

Rhode Islanders who want to see this law enforced should contact the property managers at EV charging station sites and ask them to post the required signs. It would be a good idea to suggest that the property manager consult with the local police department before ordering signs to ensure the content and design meet the required standards needed for enforcement of §31-21-18 of the General Laws of Rhode Island.
Read More …

Lewes, Delaware Opens Free Public Charging Stations

July 11, 2017July 11, 2017 Lanny

Four public electric vehicle charging stations opened in Lewes, Delaware on July 10, 2017. The city of Lewes teamed up with a private businessman to install the EV charging stations at two public parking areas in an effort to promote clean transportation and attract electric car drivers into town.

We happened to be traveling in the area when we got word that the stations had been turned on earlier in the day. Even though we were already 25 miles past the town driving toward home, we decided to make a U-turn and head to Lewes to check them out. One meter was still at zero and the other site only had 2 kWh registered when we plugged in. We decided to have dinner at the Pig and Publican restaurant which serves fantastic Belgian food. It is easy to walk the town from either charging location.

Paul Evalds, the owner of Avatar Instruments and a Tesla Model S driver, provided the charging stations and the Lewes Board of Public Works installed the equipment at an estimated cost of $6,000. The four charging stations are located in a city parking lot on Schley Ave. and at Otis Smith Park on Savannah Rd. Each location has one Tesla-specific charging connector and one universal charging connector that will fit any electric car. The stations will be free for the public to use, with the initial electricity cost covered by a grant from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Now that we know that we can charge while we visit, we will certainly be going back soon to explore more of the town of Lewes.

@PlugInSites