PGE Rolls Out First of 15 Plug-In Hybrid Charging Stations
Monday at SW First and Salmon was a glimpse of our transportation future. PGE rolled out the first of fifteen plug-in hybrid charging stations. Toyota brought one of its fleet of five plug-in hybrid Prius cars to demonstrate how the charging station works. PGE has plans to install fourteen more stations around the City, including at OMSI, OHSU and several Burgerville restaurants. The stations operate on relatively simple 220V technology, much like a clothes dryer or large freezer.
The primary advantage of plug-in hybrids over current hybrid vehicles is that the charging station is more efficient than the gasoline-powered engine at charging the batteries. This results in a greater proportionate use of electricity by the vehicle, which can increase gas mileage to close to 100 miles per gallon. Also, assuming the electricity at the power station comes from renewable technology like wind or solar, the carbon footprint of the vehicle is further reduced.
I stopped by Monday and talked to Rich George from PGE about some of the interesting legal issues posed by development of a network of charging stations across Oregon and the nation. First and foremost, who pays for the power -- the customer charging the car, or the host of the station? What role would electric utility regulation play in that relationship? One way to avoid thorny regulatory issues might be to charge for the use of the parking space rather than the electricity. In that case, what role might the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar legislation play? If so many charging stations and parking spaces are installed, must there be a set aside number of spaces with disabled access?
I'm sure these issues will be worked out over time. For now, it is nice to see the first step being taken here in Portland to make plug-in hybrids a reality.
Posted by David J. Petersen, partner practicing in the Sustainability and Real Estate & Land Use Practice Groups.
