To the Editor:
We read with interest the question posed to Valley residents in the June 12, 2014, issue of The Valley Reporter. As the owner of a 2014 Tesla 85, I wish to submit my observations on the novelty and wonder of an electric car. I agree with the comments of my neighbors Diane, Beverly and Andy. But, as a part-time resident of The Valley, let me tell you what we flatlanders need to consider when we travel to the Shire.
First, it is 280 miles to make the journey and the range of my 85kW battery fully charged is around 260 miles IF I do not use the radio, air conditioning, heated seats or the wipers should it rain. But, I have a charging station in Colonie, New York, a mere 120 miles from my New Jersey home and less than halfway to our part of heaven in Vermont. The Supercharger is free and supplied by Tesla as a courtesy to their owners. But, it takes about an hour to refill my electron tank and the remaining 160 miles should be a “piece of cake.” What I use going up to top of the Brandon Gap, I mostly get back coming down without my foot ever touching the brake.
I can charge at Green Mountain Power in Rutland, but it is level two charging and would take several hours to make an impact if the last part of the run was tight. But I could do it. And, there is a level two charger for overnight guests at the West Hill House B&B (thank you, Peter and Susan McLaren, for your offer of a plug share while we enjoy a wee drop of Islay malt).
Should we ask Win Smith to install outlets in the new parking lot at Warren House so the out-of-town skiers can refill their tanks while they plow the slopes? Great idea since each charger has a credit card slot. Might be a money maker. At current rates (even without the Tesla free electron fill-up), it costs about $20 to power my zero-emission car from New Jersey to Vermont and back. We will forget the environmental contribution of the coal-fired power companies for a moment and just assume that I travel totally on hydro, wind and solar generated electricity. I am a Vermonter after all (albeit only part time). I have 15 kilowatts of solar panels on my home in NJ so I can honestly say that I farm electrons.
Yes, let’s get a charging station in The Valley, but we had better have something to do while we wait for our electron tanks to be filled.
Rudy Jaeger
Warren, VT, and Westwood, NJ.
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