Sometimes, you have to lead by example. I blasted this via email to leaders and members of the media that I think might be interested in and/or benefit from this project. I’m posting it here for those whose email address is unknown to me.
I am looking for grants/donations and participants to model behavior needed to move electric transportation forward in Texas. Ideally, this should be a cooperative project with members from government, EV-focused NGOs, environmental activists, charging/electric providers/installers, EV manufacturers, businesses that would directly benefit from the installation. Specifically, I want to establish a DC fast charging facility (with a solar canopy and energy storage, if necessary). The site I have in mind was selected based on these criteria:
- a corridor that is widely traveled but lacks DC fast charging infrastructure. In case you’re not aware, there are only Tesla DC fast chargers along I-20, from the DFW area to Birmingham, AL (although one is “coming soon” to a Bolligee, AL Exxon station). That’s 530 miles with no fast charging, other than Tesla
- is located along a route between a large population center (DFW) and an entertainment destination (Shreveport, LA and its casinos)
- a wide selection of dining choices, within walking distance, to serve EV drivers, as their vehicles charge
- open land and/or large parking lot of possible hosts (Walmart, Lowes, QuikTrip)
- opportunity for ride share services to ferry EV drivers to restaurants/hotels in the area (possibly supported by the restaurants and/or local attractions)
- An area dominated by the oil & gas industry, to show we can coexist and perhaps be a good story for the media to cover
Tyler, Texas seems like a great spot. It’s about halfway between the last DC fast charger, on the outskirts of DFW and Shreveport, which has no DC fast charging, other than Tesla. In this case, the lack of DC fast charging in Shreveport is acceptable, as one of the intended beneficiaries (and possibly a source of some of the funding) would be the casinos. The casinos want their customers to stay a while, so Level 2 charging would be advantageous at their sites. One other enticement for the casinos and local restaurants/hotels, would be chargers that have a large display for advertising, like Volta chargers have.
If you :
- would like to participate as a vendor (construction, electrical installation, chargers, solar array, energy storage),
- would like to help financially,
- know where we can apply for grants/tax credits/other funding for this project,
- would like to report about this project on your media outlet,
- know any of the business owners who would directly benefit from this installation, (see maps)
please let me know. Also, feel free to forward this to anyone you think may be interested in helping.
We can provide an example of disparate groups coming together to enable the transition to electric transportation. Let’s show others the path forward!
EV drivers are typically higher income, love to stretch their EV legs and are very loyal to businesses that support EV charging. Let’s connect these drivers with these businesses in Tyler. “Build it and they will come… to charge.”
One last thing: I am not looking to benefit financially from this. I just want to be a catalyst and see it built, as a pilot program, to show how something like this can be done and to drive EV adoption
-Buzz
