Electric cars on their way

February 15, 2010 at 6:30 pm by Steven Vance
Filed under Business, Cities, News, Transportation

The New York Times is reporting that several California cities and companies are preparing for the coming rise in electric car ownership:

  • San Francisco is updating its building code.
  • Silicon Valley companies are ordering equipment for their employees.
  • Local electric utilities are trying to manage demand, either by predicting where ownership will be highest, in order to prepare for increased electricity use, or by asking customers to use “smart meters.”

Array

The Tesla Motors store on Grand Avenue has since opened.

I hope bicycle advocates, cities, and the electric car manufacturers consider the bicycle rider’s point of view: The noise a car makes is helpful for urban riders to evaluate the street and their surroundings. While nothing trumps the utility of being able to see and having facilities that help make bicycling safer, a bicycle rider uses all of their senses to navigate the urban environment.

More from the article:

Tesla Motors, a Silicon Valley company that makes electric cars, says it has already sold 150 of its $109,000 Roadsters in the Bay Area. One customer bought the sleek sports car on the spot after a test drive.

Chicago’s been ready for the “onslaught”

Tesla recently opened a store in Chicago, Illinois, but I haven’t seen one yet. Chicago’s not a stranger to electric car charging ports. The City uses them for its own fleet of electric cars. There are publicly-accessible stations scattered around downtown. A parking garage in River North has plug-in charging ports.

Array

Photo of Greenway Self Park at 60 W Kinzie, featuring a wind-turbine that powers a portion of the night lighting. By Eric Rogers.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

-Steven Vance

Do more with this post

Related Posts
  1. Bike friendly neighborhoods, in Chicago and beyond
  2. Wal-Mart moves in, in a big way
  3. Posts I liked today
  4. Improving bicycling to airports
  5. Non-auto construction projects in Chicago

  • wle
    noise makers?

    that;s silly

    most regular cars are quiet enough also that you can;t hear them anyway

    wle.
  • I didn't say there should be noisemakers. I don't know what there should be.

    Sort of related, I would like cars to have larger or more conspicuous turn signals. Some cars have the turn signal on the inside of the headlight, others on the outside of the headlight. Sometimes their color blends with the headlight. Mirror-mounted and side-mounted turn signals are very helpful.
  • Last week I got a start when I realized that a Prius taxi cab was driving beside me. A reminder not to rely on my ears too much.
  • On my way home from volunteering tonight, I thought, "Car companies should have bicycle advisory groups." The committee would comment on all aspects of the car's function and design. Many bicycle riders (racing, recreation, transportation, commuting) are also drivers and drivers are required to share the road. Perhaps seeing cars from a bicycle rider's point of view could affect the use of our streets for the betterment of all its users.
  • Josh Koonce
    It's true. I remember when the hybrid bus flew by me and was past before I heard it; scary stuff.

    But it seems unlikely that Tesla would install some sort noisemaker on their car.
  • I don't think I've ever passed one, or been passed by one.
    A Prius, sure.
blog comments powered by Disqus