Edison Was Bullish on the EV Charging Business in 1917

Lanny


Seeing Ahead for the Electric Vehicle

An Interview with Thomas A. Edison

Originally published in Electrical World – January 6, 1917

“The growth of the electric vehicle has been hindered by lack of charging facilities. Selling electric current is a mercantile business just like any other business. Not enough central stations realize this and very few search out every way that current may be marketed. As a result, undeveloped markets exist for the sale of central station energy. It’s a funny business when so few central stations realize that there is a waiting market for the sale of current for charging electric cars. The public is in the curious position of wanting to buy something for which there is no place to go.

“In my opinion the central station should go into the garage business and provide in this way the best means of furnishing a place to which the customer can go to buy what he wants, electric current, in the form of mileage.
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Black Ankle Vineyards With Six EV Charging Stations

Lanny


Black Ankle Vineyards has installed six electric vehicle charging stations at their tasting room near Mt. Airy, Maryland. This is one of the biggest Tesla destination charging locations in the mid-Atlantic region and perhaps the “highest-powered” vineyard with EV charging in the area.

The tasting room is located in a building made with straw bale construction and has solar panels on the roof. There is plenty of outdoor seating for those who want to bring a picnic in the warmer months. The day we visited in February, there were several indoor fireplaces going that gave the place a warm, cozy feeling.

The six charging stations are located separate from the main parking area and consist of three 80 Amp Tesla connectors and three 32 Amp ClipperCreek J-1772 stations.

Black Ankle Vineyards is located at 14463 Black Ankle Rd, Mount Airy, MD and is open Fridays from 12:00 pm until 8:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

West Virginia EV Charging – Cacapon Resort State Park

Lanny

Photo credit: West Virginia Department of Commerce, used with permission.

Now you can charge your electric car when you stay overnight at several West Virginia State Park lodges.

Cacapon Resort, located about 100 miles from Washington, DC, is one of three West Virginia State Parks to install EV charging stations for overnight guests. Pipestem and Twin Falls also have EV charging.

Cacapon has two 30-Amp, Level 2, J-1772 charging ports made by Schneider Electric that are located in the main parking area of the lodge.
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SB301 – Maryland Bill to Ease Charging at Condos & HOAs

Lanny


There are a number of bills that have already been introduced in the 2017 session of the Maryland General Assembly that will affect electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Senate Bill (SB) 301 would lift restrictions against installing electric vehicle charging equipment at condominium or homeowners associations and establish requirements and procedures for owners and the governing bodies of condos or HOAs to handle a request to install EV charging equipment.

This bill is based on California Assembly Bill (AB) 2565 which gives multi-unit housing tenants the right to install a charging station at their residence as long as the tenant pays for the costs of installation, maintenance, electricity and subsequent removal upon moving. Many people in Maryland live in multi-unit housing. The issue that this bill attempts to address is important to solve to achieve the full potential of electric vehicle adoption in Maryland.
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Anti-ICEing Bill Proposed in Maryland – 2017 HB 36

Lanny

Maryland State Delegate Clarence Lam has introduced a bill to penalize “ICEing” if a charging station has a specific sign and the space is marked with green paint. The bill, HB 36, [PDF link] is the fifth attempt at “anti-ICEing” legislation in the Maryland General Assembly.

The language of HB 36 is identical to HB 839 that passed the House in the 2016 Session but didn’t have time to make it through the Senate. This time, the bill will have a much earlier start and should be able to easily pass the House again, as long as there are no significant changes to the bill. The hope is that there will be more time to also get it passed in the Senate in 2017.

Example of signage required to be posted for proposed anti-ICEing law to be enforceable.
Legislation Won’t Be A Cure-All

If the Maryland anti-ICEing bill becomes law, will all charging spots therefore be enforceable? Unfortunately, no. The majority of charging stations in Maryland do not have signs that conform to the state and federal parking sign standards specified in HB 36 and/or don’t have green pavement markings. Each charging station operator or site host must take the initiative to post the official signs that include stating the maximum fine of $100 and they must also apply and maintain green pavement markings in order to comply with the bill’s enforcement provisions.

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Plug-In Vehicle Excise Tax Credit Extension Proposed in Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2017

Lanny


UPDATE: Governor Signs Tax Credit Extension

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced his plan to introduce the Clean Cars Act of 2017. The Governor’s proposed legislation will increase the investment in the Electric Vehicle Excise Tax Credit program by over 30 percent and double the funds available for the Charging Station Rebate program.

In addition to increasing the state’s investment, other changes have been proposed in an effort to avoid running out of funds before the end of the incentive program’s time period. The previous Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles was due to end on June 30, 2017, however, funds were depleted by September, 2016.

Under the proposed Clean Cars Act of 2017:

  • $2.4 million will be allocated for Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles
  • $1.2 million for Income Tax Credit for Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE)
  • $100 credit per kilowatt hour (kWh) of capacity, down from $125
  • $60,000 vehicle sales price cap to be eligible for the Excise Tax Credit
  • Retroactive to vehicle purchases since the previous program expired

The final details are up to the legislature and are subject to change.

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