News blog

Electric car race

car-electric.jpg

In San Francisco new building regulations could accelerate the integration of electric plug-in vehicles. The regulations, which have just been introduced, insist that all new houses will come ready equipped with a plug-in electric car charger.

The move puts San Francisco in the lead in the race to becoming US’s most electric-car friendly city. In fact many companies in the area are readying their facilities so that employees can plug in their cars in the staff car park, and utilites companies re figuring out how to deal with the surge in demand for electricity if electric cars really take off. Coming up in the city will be a loan scheme for residents to help pay for electric chargers in their homes (Telegraph).

Which they seem set to do: Nissan is currently taking its electric car, the Leaf on a promotional tour of the US. This car will become available for sale in Europe in December 2011 and to the mass market in 2012.

The New York Times pre-empted the introduction of San Francisco’s regulations with a piece at the weekend explaining San Francisco’s lead in the electric-car area. But as the Leaf does the rounds, Houston has also been touted as the electric car capital. Meanwhile across the pond, according to Time at the weekend, European countries are also apparently in a rush to become electric-car friendly with Denmark firm favourite to win.

Image: Alamy

Comments

  1. Report this comment

    mutuelle santé said:

    That is a really very good initiative. But i wonder what are the prices range of these vehicules? Echologically, it a great move. but these cars manufacturers must try to touch the majority of car user worldwide. Why would anyone buy an electric 1500cc car at the same price of a normal sports car?

  2. Report this comment

    Josh Farow said:

    This is first I have heard of this initiative. I think it is critical to start building infrasturcture for electric vehicles particularly at the electric generation level. If we don’t we’re going to get behind demand and run into the rolling black outs deal again. It’s exciting to see we are finally making some progress here. We just need to get the renewable power plant generating tech going!

Comments are closed.