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Answers to Smart Questions You’re thinking of investing in the
future by doing something you’ve probably done
before - exploring the cutting edge of technology. This
time, you’re thinking about buying an electric
vehicle. It’s daring. It sounds right. And, in a lot
of ways, it seems to make sense. But there are a lot of
unknowns.
At Edison EV, we’ve made a
huge commitment to make your dream of a green future come
true. We have worked with government agencies, cities,
schools, businesses, utility companies, and technology
and automotive manufacturers. We’ve become experts
in this field, and now we have the answers to many of
your questions. Here are a few of them, just to get you
started. Please call us if you want to know more.
CARS ...
Q: Electric vehicles sound like
such a great idea ... but are they for real?
A: As real as seven major
auto manufacturers can make them. GM’s EV1, launched
in December 1996 ... followed by the Chevrolet S-10
Electric Pickup and the all-new Honda EV PLUS by
mid-1997. Then the Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4-EV by fall
of 1997 and Nissan in 1998.
Q: If I buy an EV, how would I
keep it charged?
A: Making it easy for you to
keep your personal EV charged is where Edison EV comes
in. As the premier supplier of inductive and conductive
EV charging equipment, we can help you by installing a
charging system in your home.
 We’re also working diligently to
develop the public charging infrastructure you need. In
other words, creating a place for you to recharge your EV
when you’re out on the road, at work, at the mall,
in a theater, or anywhere else you might take your EV.
Q: Will there be enough public
charging stations for EVs?
Startup costs in this industry are reasonable. It is possible to start a vending machine route for less than a few thousand dollars. The work of a Vending machines business operator can be divided into two basic areas. As a vending machine business owner you can choose to work by yourself, with a partner or hire teams to work for you A: We’re working every
day with organizations that are making this vision a
reality. It’s the "chicken and egg"
dilemma ... in the first few years, there won’t be a
charger on every corner, but as more and more businesses
join the EV bandwagon - supplying chargers at malls and
workplaces and movie theaters - more and more smart folks
like you will buy electric vehicles. By fall of 1997
there will be over 300 charging stations up and
operational in Southern California and Arizonia.
CHARGING TECHNOLOGY ...
Q: Is there such a thing as
"standard equipment" for charging?
A: As EVs move into the
marketplace, there are two types of electric vehicle
support equipment:
- Inductive chargers work like
your electric toothbrush: there is never a
metal-to-metal contact in the connection. Edison
EV is a distributor of the Delco Magne ChargeTM
inductive system that GM uses for its vehicles.
Nissan plans to use inductive technology, as
well.
- Conductive chargers work like
your hair dryer. They’re the more
traditional plug and outlet technology. Ford,
Honda and Toyota will use conductive technology
for their initial demonstration vehicles between
1997 and 1999.
Q: How do I purchase the right
charging system?
A: The charging system is
literally an extension of the electric vehicle. When you
purchase or lease an electric vehicle, the salesperson
will instruct you on whether you should use an inductive
or conductive system to charge your EV.
Q: How long does it take to
charge an EV?
A: For a completely
discharged vehicle, it can take anywhere from 3 to 8
hours, depending on the type of vehicle. But most owners
who use public charging to "top off" their
vehicles will charge for 1 to 2 hours.
Q: What is
"fast-charging" and when will it be available?
A: High-powered chargers
(25kW or higher) can deliver about a 50% charge in 20
minutes or less. These chargers aren’t commercially
available yet, and they cost a lot. But as technology
catches up to demand, fast-chargers will probably be
available at specialized locations like fueling stations
and rest stops.
MONEY TALK ...
Q: How much does a home charging
system cost?
A: The only system currently
available, the Delco Magne ChargeTM inductive
wall-mount system, retails for $1,995, plus installation
($3,285 for a floor-mount system). A basic installation
costs $895. Conductive chargers are expected to be
available mid this year and prices will be announced at
that time.
Q: How much does it cost to
charge an EV?
A: Actual cost depends on
utility rates for your area, but typically, to fully
charge an EV costs about 1.5¢ a mile, with the special
EV rates made available to many EV customers.
 HOME CHARGING STATION WARRANTY &
INSURANCE ...
Q: What about maintenance for an
EV charging system? What does it require and how do I
take care of that?
A: It works like this:
Edison EV’s installation of the charging circuit
carries a 3-year warranty. The charging hardware itself
has a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty. Edison also
offers a maintenance and repair policy.
Q: And what about insurance for
the EV charging system?
A: Edison EV is working hard
to give insurance carriers what they need to know by
providing fact sheets and safety information. The
charging hardware should be treated like any other piece
of equipment installed on your property and covered under
your regular liability and property damage policy.
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