MovieChat Forums > Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) Discussion > Free electricity for electric cars

Free electricity for electric cars

posted 13 years ago by apeweek
2 replies | jump to latest

Here's a story about Meijers, a Michigan based retailer (a Wal-Mart type big-box store.)

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/michigan-retail-chain-installs-ev-cha rging-stations.html

They are putting in free electric car charging stations. One of these stores is just a couple of miles from me.

This is a great idea for retailers. Electricity for an hour of EV charging costs the retailer just a few cents. In exchange they get EV customers to shop at their stores.

As an EV driver, I get free electricity for my car in exchange for doing a little shopping, which I have to do anyway. In fact the availability of free electricity might encourage me to shop a little further away than I might ordinarily consider.

As an EV owner, I will definitely move almost all of my department store and grocery shopping to my local Meijers. (It's a great parking spot, too.)

So, market forces create a solution for EV charging stations. More stores, restaurants and hotels will certainly follow suit as EVs catch on.

[–] truekiwijoker 12 years ago

What was your point in posting this Dave?

So as a PR exercise this Wal-mart style chain is offering free electric charging to EV owners?
So they figure that the increase in custom from EV owners and naive pseudo-greenies will be worth what they'll pay in electricity. And judging by the comment;...

As an EV owner, I will definitely move almost all of my department store and grocery shopping to my local Meijers.

...it would appear as though this PR stunt has worked.

Yes Dave, go on and tell yourself how this Meijers is doing the planet a favour...

[–] apeweek 12 years ago

...Yes Dave, go on and tell yourself how this Meijers is doing the planet a favour

They're doing ME a favor. If someone gave away free gasoline, wouldn't you be over there getting some?