The only electric charging station in Pennsylvania
I felt honored to be able to stand in front of the only public electric charging station in Pennsylvania at 1600 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd in South Philly (http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/progs/ind_state.php/PA/ELEC). For the past couple weeks I have been on an electric car rampage. Reading reviews, researching specs and watching YouTube videos. I was lucky to get to drive the Nissan LEAF this past Friday with Nissan's 'Drive Electric Tour'. I really like the LEAF because it is 100% electric but sadly, as you can see, there aren't too many electric charging stations in the area. I envy those who live in California who have TONS of charging stations. This is why I don't feel that the Nissan LEAF is ready for primetime in the Philadelphia area.
First of all I can't even buy a LEAF if I wanted to (http://bit.ly/r0MgqC), Nissan isn't selling it in the state yet. The other thing is the lack of public charging stations. When the charging stations do pop up they have to be the Level 3 type, not level 2 like pictured above. The Level 2 stations will charge a LEAF around 7 hours but a Level 3 could charge it 80% in 30 minutes. Who's going to sit in a parking lot or gas station and wait that long? California, Colorado and other states give generous tax incentives for purchasing an electric vehicle. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000 in rebates (http://bit.ly/oFbJ8P). Along with a federal tax credit of $7,500 those rebates/credits add up quickly.
If I lived in a house and the LEAF was being sold in Pennsylvania I would buy one (or lease it ). The home charging station costs $2,200 but you can get some of that money back from the feds. The future is here and slowly but surely these charging stations will be as ubiquitous as gas pumps. I can't wait.
