Citing a Lack of Usage, Costco Removes E.V. Chargers

[Synicus Maximus]

Source: new york times

Costco, the membership warehouse-club chain, was an early leader in offering electric-vehicle charging to its customers, setting an example followed by other retailers, including Best Buy and Walgreen. By 2006, Costco had installed 90 chargers at 64 stores, mostly in California but also some in Arizona, New York and Georgia. Even after General Motors crushed its EV1 battery cars, the Costco chargers stayed in place.

Yet just as plug-in cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt enter the market, Costco is reversing course and pulling its chargers out of the ground, explaining that customers do not use them.

Read more: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/citing-a-lack-of-usage-costco-removes-e-v-chargers/

[onehandle]

1. America. Speeding back to the 19th century, step by step. nt

[Meeker Morgan]

3. 19th century you say?

http://inventors.about.com/od/estartinventions/a/History-Of-Electric-Vehicles.htm

[quakerboy]

2. Why pull out existing infrastructure?

I mean, I could see not putting in new ones until/unless they prove themselves, but why bother ripping something you already paid for out of the ground.

[RKP5637]

4. I agree!!! It makes no sense. n/t

[hack89]

5. Because of maintenance costs? If it is a money loser then it makes perfect sense. nt

[DissedByBush]

7. One bet is charging standards

The EV1 used lead acid and nickel metal hydride batteries and charged with a specific induction chargers.

The Leaf uses more modern charging standards tailored to the lithium ion batteries in it. It cannot use an EV1 charger.

My bet is the power lines are still there, and if electrics get popular enough they just need to hook up a new standard charging station.

[quakerboy]

9. That bet would see you bust

Per the article

"The Costco outlets are also outdated by current standards, but a state-supported program stands ready to upgrade them at no cost to Costco."

[DissedByBush]

15. Turns out I was right

They are outdated.

There may soon be enough EVs around to make the upgrade worth it. Even if the state helps with the installation, something like this isn't totally free.

[quakerboy]

17. Turns out not

Unfounded assertions aside, "at no cost" is not the same as "helps with".


And removing a preexisting fixture costs something in and of itself. Which Costco was clearly willing to pay.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Were they the correct chargers for the newer vehicles?

There are several competing standards (naturally)

[quakerboy]

10. Halfway

per the article: "The Costco outlets are also outdated by current standards, but a state-supported program stands ready to upgrade them at no cost to Costco."

[ShockediSay]

8. Big Government or Big Corporate Rule? n/t

[quakerboy]

11. Day late and a dollar short

According to another article, the removals were completed august 15. Its not happening, its happened.

[Kablooie]

12. I've seen many chargers all over LA but never have seen a car connected to one.

[robcon]

13. No loss. Electric cars are powered mostly by coal.

n/t

[Meeker Morgan]

14. Bingo! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

18. Electric cars can also be powered by solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal

even more so if the nation ever gets off its' ass and builds a smart grid.

Gasoline and Diesel powered cars are trapped in the fossil fuel matrix with no other possibility, making a small partial exception for hybrids.

Electric cars have much greater flexibility in the options they allow as to the root base of their energy source, fossil fuel powered cars and trucks are heading toward a rapidly approaching dead end for the automobile and the people.

[itsrobert]

16. How long does one spend in a Costco?

Would 15 to 30 minute charge be worth it?