Electric Car Charging Station at local grocery store

[katakisLives]

Come on!!! how often do you see plug sockets conveniently situated on lamp posts! I heard recently it was projected that there would be a million electric cars on Britain's roads by 2020! I think even that's somewhat ambitious governments are all talk when it comes to electric car infrastructure!

[1foxtrot70]

This is interesting. If a Credit/Debit card authorization were connected to a power outlet it would be a revenue source for the store and the taxes including road tax could be calculated also. Even paying for the electric energy to operate the vehicle would still be cheaper than buying petrol based fuels and the best thing is the power is produced in the USA, not imported from the Middle East. Just my thought.

[BenjaminNelson]

@1foxtrot70

Yep! You are exactly right!

[1foxtrot70]

@BenjaminNelson - I did a Google search yesterday on the Credit/Debit card system. A standard system used by service stations could be used for this instead of operating a relay to provide power to the pump power is provided to the outlet. A receipt would be printed, when the system senses no more power draw, for the customer wether connection for engine heater or for battery recharging.

[BenjaminNelson]

@1foxtrot70

There are a number of systems out there already. One of them is the CHARGEPOINT system by Coulumbtechdotcom . Do a web search for it.

Also true electric outlets in public can be used for engine block heating or EV charging.

It seems that most "Charging Stations" like those from ChargePoint are overpriced. They are just glorified electric outlets, but cost thousands of dollars.

[katakisLives]

@1foxtrot70 I think that if they rolled out charging stations in all store car parks the electricity should be subsidised by the store in question! and if some car park chain like NCP had them they should be included in the cost of the initial parking

[1foxtrot70]

@katakisLives - I am not familiar with store chains in the UK. It is a convience that the store is providing. I agree as a public service to their customers this would encourage repeat customers. Here in the states, inparticular in the Des Moines, Iowa area various stores do have outlets but they are for their outdoor garden sales in the spring and sometimes you will see in the winter it gets down to -30Fwith wind chill of -50F folks that have diesel cars or trucks will plug in while shopping.

[katakisLives]

@1foxtrot70 You see it all the time! companies these days all want to be seen to be helping the environment! and this would have the added benefit of being good for business! its like the energy companies that claim to offset their carbon emissions by planting trees! Tescos or some other supermarket could jump on this!

[proverb311031]

how about using a special Bluetooth wireless signal to charge a car, no wires needs as long as your in range your car can be charged up, even while you are driving

[WarcraftHermit]

none around here i looked there is a few at the mall but there are locks on them

[bjspitfire13]

yep, I looked all over the place, where I live, and there is none, here in vancouver and Portland OR, they don't have plugs, so they are not every where, duh.!!!

[MSIL2]

Okay??? You're strange. 8/

[bjspitfire13]

Omg that is the first piggly wiggly store I have seen, I thought that was a joke from Jeff Foxworthy about piggly wiggly bags...

and as far as power outlets ? here in Washingtion and Oregon, I have never seen any out lets like that any where. ??

and soon they all will put pay meters on them like parking meters to park down town.

[BenjaminNelson]

Every parking lot or street light has a junction box near its base where the wiring is completed. It is very easy to put in an electric outlet right there.

Start looking around for outlets, you might start seeing them in more places than you thing.

I know some of the cities in Oregon and Washington are getting EV friendlier. There are public EV charging stations going up in places like Olympia.

[scottyb132]

Im interested if you have accuially tried this. My logic being that if they are designed to run christmass lights stc they would probiably be linked into the same wiring as the lights (to save additional wire runs) this means the sockets could only be live when the lights are on (night time hours). OK, if you do your shopping in the dark ;).

[BenjaminNelson]

I used an outlet tester. The outlets are always on. In the winter, they plug in the block heater for a diesel snowplow in one of the lightposts

[SirTragain]

Power can be controlled by a timer for when the store opens and closes.

There are also street lights that are powered 24/7 with photo sensitive switching to come on at sunset and back off at sunrise.

[BenjaminNelson]

In this particular case, the lights and the power outlets are on separate controls. The power outlets are always on. The lights themselves are controlled by either a timer or photosensor.

[ThalassTKynn]

I never thought of this before. I haven't seen anything like this in parking lots in Australia, but I haven't been looking. I'll keep an eye out for them. Also my wife is from Canada, so when I'm over there next I'll keep an eye out too. It'd be handy for when we move over there.

[JUKIO01]

did it have a sign that says elctric charging or something like that? cause what if someone else parks there, then the electric car wont be able to charge, is it just some electric plug?

[BenjaminNelson]

It's just a standard electric plug on a parking lot light. There are at least 20 posts in the parking lot. Any of the 6 spaces around each pole would easily reach the outlet to plug in. I even told the managers that I would be happy to park in the farthest reaches of the lot to leave closer spaces for other customers.

[iwantev]

Very good point. I love this video. I have never seen plugs on street lights in Toronto but I will keep my eyes out. Where did you film this?

[BenjaminNelson]

This was shot in south-eastern Wisconsin, USA.

I have heard that further north, there are places that have power available in parking lots for electric engine block heaters.

[bbjsw10]

I noticed this at my local Wal-mart today and asked a Manager about it and they said they would not mind at all. They wished more people would drive electrics.

[biggseye]

The fact that you did not plug anything in does not change the fact that you implied through your actions that you condoned this. You made no mention of infrastructure until after you talked about being able to "plug anything you want into it". It makes all the difference in the world. your intent not withstanding, your words condone theft.

[bbjsw10]

He even has text that mentions get "Permission of course" he is not saying to steal electricity just that the sources are there for EV vehicles.

[biggseye]

That is a distinction without a difference. He is pointing out and approving by his actions and words the thief of power from the owner of the parking lot. This is no difference than if he told you to run a power cable to the house next store and plug into their outside outlet. This man is condoning the taking of another property, in this case the power from the post, to use as his own without payment.

[BenjaminNelson]

I NEVER PLUGGED IN! I am merely saying that electric outlets are all around us, and that the infrastructure for short-range electric vehicles already exist. I Would like to get permission from many local business owners to encourage the promotion of efficient vehicles.

[beliartheusurper]

lol stealing electricty

[leotron4]

he was not stealing electricity he was just saying something!!! hehe , I like when you say 'hello! with the hand :) waiting for more! Good luck.