Infrastructure of the electric car expands

Electric-car sales have continued to expand nationally, as well as in Southern Nevada. More than 100,000 plug-in electric cars are now traveling on U.S. roads and highways.

The recent success of Tesla Motors is beginning to draw more attention worldwide to electric-drive transportation. Consumer Reports has scored the company’s Model S technology at 99 out of 100 after its review. Tesla Motors became profitable for the first time during the first quarter of this year by exceeding production targets. Its common stock (NASDAQ: TSLA) has quadrupled in value during the past two months, allowing the company to pay off a $450 million U.S. government loan nine years early.

Ford Motor Co. also has ramped up production and distribution of its plug-in electric-drive vehicles nationally. In Southern Nevada, Gaudin Ford and Ford Country now carry the Ford Focus Electric as well as plug-in Fusion Energi and plug-in C-Max Energi hybrids. Friendly Ford is selling the two plug-in hybrid versions and Team Ford Lincoln is one of three local dealerships that have installed electric vehicle supply equipment in their parking lots so customers can plug in and recharge. Ford Sync optional features are loaded with new bells and whistles, including automatic parallel parking assist and side mirror blind-spot detection.

Nissan Motors has dropped the price of the 2013 all-electric LEAF by $6,000 from 2012 prices. The company is able to achieve these savings by building the cars and their rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs in the United States at a modern production facility in Smyrna, Tenn. Nissan designers have upgraded the electric-drive-train technology of the LEAF and added faster charging options to two of its new models. The Nissan LEAF can be test driven locally and recharged on-site at United Nissan, Planet Nissan, Autonation Nissan and Henderson Nissan.

General Motors also has lowered the price of a 2013 Chevrolet Volt by $2,000 compared to the previous year’s model price. GM will be scaling up the Volt’s extended-range, electric-vehicle technology for the Cadillac ELR during 2014. The Chevrolet Volt can be test driven locally and recharged on-site at Findlay Chevrolet, Fairway Chevrolet, Henderson Chevrolet, Ed Bozarth Chevrolet and the Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza.

Courtesy Mitsubishi Henderson sells and supports the 2013 Mitsubishi i-MiEV, an all-electric car. The dealership in the Valley Automall has two Level 2 charging stations available for its customers.

Fletcher Jones Toyota, Findlay Toyota, Autonation Toyota and Centennial Toyota have been able to acquire plug-in versions of the 2013 Toyota Prius PHV hybrid for their clients .

Electric-car recharging infrastructure continues to expand throughout Southern Nevada. New Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment was recently installed at Whiskey Pete’s in Primm near the California-Nevada state line on Interstate 15, as well as at Las Vegas Cyclery on the west side of Las Vegas near the Las Vegas Beltway. More public charging stations, providing electricity at no cost, allow electric-car owners the security to plan more road trips around Southern Nevada and also is attractive to visitors from out of state. A Google locator map showing the existing public charging station locations in the state can be found at: http://nevadaeva.org/evse-locator-map/

NV Energy and the Nevada State Office of Energy recently hosted workshops in Reno and Las Vegas to promote an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program created by the National Electrical Contractors Association. More than 20 members of local union 357 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers attended a free training session, along with other interested building contractors, automotive dealerships and prospective electric-car owners. Certified trainers demonstrated technologies inside electric-drive vehicles and the related equipment used to recharge them. Other relevant infrastructure training included building codes, site evaluations and electrical appliance load calculations. Installations of charging stations at commercial and residential sites must comply with requirements outlined in the National Electrical Code, as well as American Disabilities Act guidelines for wheelchair access.

Stan Hanel has worked in the electronics industry for more than 30 years and is a long-time member of the Electric Auto Association and the Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association. Hanel writes and edits for EAA’s “Current Events” and LVEVA’s “Watts Happening” newsletters. Contact him at stanhanel@aol.com.