{"id":3985,"date":"2013-06-05T09:24:04","date_gmt":"2013-06-05T13:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myparkingsign.com\/blog\/?p=3985"},"modified":"2023-08-02T03:45:37","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T07:45:37","slug":"unc-electric-car-charging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myparkingsign.com/blog\/unc-electric-car-charging\/","title":{"rendered":"UNC will charge for electric car charging stations"},"content":{"rendered":"

This fall, the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill will add three charging stations to power electric vehicles. However,\u00a0this service probably won’t be free for users, unlike the free electric charging stations are available in other parts of Orange County.<\/p>\n

As The Herald Sun reports<\/a>, UNC’s Board of Trustee\u2019s Budget and Finance Committee \u201cunanimously approved a proposal to charge owners of electric cars $250 a year for a decal that would allow them to use the charging stations.\u00a0The $250 fee for the decal would be in addition to the base parking permit motorists buy to park on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea to charge a fee for EV (Electric Vehicle) stations has met with strong opposition from UNC\u2019s electric and hybrid car owners who think it is a mistake to put a price tag on this service. One critic, who has written to the newspaper, also suspects that the university will lose money when few buy the EV station decals. [Source: The Herald Sun<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Why UNC proposes to charge for electric car stations<\/h2>\n

Some universities and municipalities (Durham and Chapel Hill, for instance)\u00a0allow motorists to charge their EVs for free in order to popularize the use of electric vehicles. However, UNC contends that requiring payment isn’t just about customer convenience; it\u2019s also a question of treating all employees fairly.<\/p>\n

Carolyn Elfland, associate vice chancellor of campus services, advocates the fee. \u201cThe electricity is essentially their fuel,” she says. “The state is not going to subsidize individual parties fueling their vehicles.\u201d Other reasons to charge for EV parking are covering maintenance and operating charging stations costs, as well as deterring non-electric vehicle owners from using the spaces.<\/p>\n

\"Electric<\/a>

Electric vehicle charging in North Carolina. Image by NCDOTcommunications<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Charging stations could help stop unsafe practices<\/h2>\n

Elfland also expects that adding charging stations will reduce unsafe practices. She said, \u201cWhat we have had before now is kind of unsafe situations where people \u2013 some folks live beyond the reach of their charge, so they can come here but can\u2019t get back home \u2013 so we\u2019ve had things like extension cords plugged in buildings on the inside and run out the door. We\u2019ve also had people finding a plug in a parking deck and just sticking it and it\u2019s really not safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charging stations in other parts of Orange County may be under-utilized<\/h2>\n

16 free electric car charging stations were installed last year in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. \u201cOrangeCounty picks up the tab for use of the electricity that costs about 50 cents per hour per charge.\u201d (Source: The Chapel Hill News<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Walt Mack, a Chapel Hill resident, wrote the following criticism of the plan to The Chapel Hill News: \u201cTwo of the charging stations are located in the parking lot behind the Seymour senior center on Homestead Road in Chapel Hill, and occupy two parking spaces reserved exclusively for charging electric cars. During my frequent visits to the center, I have yet to see an electric car taking advantage of the free charge, and that\u2019s been more than a year since they were installed.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Electric<\/a>

View this sign here<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mack requested a relocation of these charging stations. It’s an ongoing issue in the area. Town officials had received complaints about the under-utilization of hybrid car parking spots<\/a> at the Chapel Hill Public Library too.<\/p>\n

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