by Roni Farbes
Going "Green" can be a big win for malls and retail chains across the United States. With the booming Electric Vehicle market many malls and shopping centers have been exploring new techniques to bring customers into their facilities. The government is expecting EV sales to come close to or top the 200,000 EV sales in the year 2012.
Retails can use it to bring in more customers at an opportune time of their day. An idea sitaution is to build a solar power roof over the parking lots of many of these malls and produce the electricity to recharge the EV. Electric vehicles typically need about 20 - 30 minutes to recharge their batteries to about 70%. This is plenty of time for shoppers to walk inside and take a look or grab a cup of coffee. The federal government has allocated over $300 million dollars to install public recharging stations to help inspire retail business. The solar panels can provide electric for cars and advertisement space.
Some major retail chains have already signed onto the recharging program.
The Cracker Barrel- This chain has committed to install charging locations in 24 of its restaurants in the state of Tennessee, which coincidentally is where Nissan will start building the LEAF next year.
Simon Property Group- The largest owner of U.S. shopping malls said it is adding EV charge points to its 260 store mall in Orlando Florida and the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto California.
Best Buy- This appliance store giant is being more creative with its recharging stations. They will offer customers a set fee of probably $79 a month for unlimited access to recharging. A brilliant concept to have customers returning frequently with spare time to shop.
Best Buy- This appliance store giant is being more creative with its recharging stations. They will offer customers a set fee of probably $79 a month for unlimited access to recharging. A brilliant concept to have customers returning frequently with spare time to shop.
Best Buy- This home electronics giant will be installing EV chargers at most of their stores but will be charging an access fee for a variety of plans that will top out at $79.00 a month for unlimited access.
Macy's- Soon Six of the Macy's department stores will be giving an extra opportunity to charge up their vehicles. An agreement was made with Ecotality to build the additions but the locations have yet to be publicized.
As the number of electric vehicles on the road increases, retailers are hoping to profit from charging station installations by pitching both the ability to recharge while you shop and the convenience of having prime parking spaces reserved for people with electric vehicles.
Want to find out more about EV charging stations.
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