Fueling electric cars - will RubeStations become the ‘gas stations’ of tomorrow?

March 6, 7:39 AMOrlando Auto Mechanic ExaminerJim Troeger

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The RubeStation - City of Eustis Photo

Do you frequently have errands to take care of around town and most of them are just beyond reasonable walking distance but hardly worth backing the car out of the driveway? If so, a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) may suit your needs well. Ranging from two seats to six and from well-appointed golf carts to a ¾ scale Ford Roadster, NEVs are quickly becoming a viable option for those who enjoy the urban lifestyle.

On March 1st, the city of Eustis, Florida established itself as the first test market for the “gas station” of tomorrow, with the opening of the RubeStation. The facility was built and installed by RubeLab Inc., a Eustis-based nonprofit organization that promotes alternative technologies. The station, which will later be donated to the city, is the first of its kind, providing multiple charging bays where residents can park and charge their NEVs or other plug-in electric vehicles for free.

GEM e4 NEV

Currently, the charging stations are powered through the electric grid at city expense. When the station is complete, however, it will include a 16 x 12 foot photovoltaic cell that converts solar energy into electricity which will be used to provide power to the charging stations. During times of low use, the excess electricity produced by the cell will be sold back to Progress Energy. The cell will serve double-duty by providing shaded cover for a rest area which will include benches and additional outlets for residents to plug-in their laptops while waiting for their NEV to finish fueling up.

Additional target sectors are being identified for placement of future stations, with several other Central Florida communities closely monitoring the success of the Eustis location.

NORAM Concepts Inc., eRoadster

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