Let's contact the governor’s office and the legislature
I too sent an email and received a prompt reply today from Tom Wilke, Business Development and Concessions Manager of Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, stating "Although no specific time frame is scheduled for installation of the units, the Turnpike is in discussion with EV charging vendors." Seems to me this reply is boilerplate, but perhaps I'm unfairly lumping them in with WDW.
Thanks for sending the email, TI Sailor. Your comment: “Seems to me this reply is boilerplate, but perhaps I'm unfairly lumping them in with WDW.” is overly generous.
In my earlier post on this thread (8/1/8/13, # 8) I said that I was going to contact FDOT and would post re any progress (or lack thereof). This post will update my lack of progress. It will also provide evidence that FDOT has been for a number of years stringing us along, with the same boilerplate.
In my August 18 post on the fordcmaxenergiforum.com site, I noted that efforts had been previously been made to encourage FL turnpike officials to install charging stations at their service plazas and they had been unresponsive. I stated that I intended to send an email to promote that effort and asked others to consider doing the same.
The following are pertinent parts of the two email messages that I sent to turnpike officials at
[email protected] and
[email protected] on August 19, 2013:
“I am a regular traveler on Florida’s Turnpike. I currently drive a plug-in hybrid and am in the process of buying an all-electric car. To the best of my knowledge, there are no charging stations on the Turnpike, despite years of discussions, promises, and descriptions of work accomplished. Plug-in vehicle owners pay tolls on the Turnpike and are entitled to reasonable support. Charging stations should be Levels 2 and 3, and should be widely available at reasonable cost. Charging stations are not only for our own personal convenience, but will help promote tourism and environmental values. Electric vehicle owners are a rapidly growing segment of drivers in Florida and are generally fairly upscale. They represent a group that Florida should be seeking to attract as visitors and residents.
“Thank you for your consideration and meaningful action.”
I received an email response that same day from Tom Wilke, Business Development & Concessions Manager, Florida's Turnpike Enterprise. That response is remarkably similar to the those received by many of us who are posting on various sites. He described the installation of one Level 2 charging station at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza (which is south of Miami), the placement of conduits and pull boxes from the electrical rooms to parking spots at the Pompano Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Drum and Turkey Lake Service Plazas, and the study of placement of additional chargers at “a number of the other service plazas.”
The following are parts of my response that I sent to Mr. Wilke the same day:
“The installation of Level 2 chargers at service plazas would be a big step in the right direction. Unfortunately, I have seen DOT reports from more than two years ago regarding placement of conduits and pull boxes, and I am unaware of any meaningful progress since that time. Would it be possible for you to give me even a rough estimate as to when the chargers at any of the Pompano Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Drum and Turkey Lake Service Plazas might be accessible to the public? Also, if other plazas are being studied for charger installation, can you tell me which plazas, when the study will be completed, and when action might be taken on the study?
“Unfortunately, the Snapper Creek charging station you described is of no help to me because I travel between Golden Glades and the northern terminus of the turnpike.
“Please give me any possible advice as to whether we might be able to advance the charger installation process by contacting the administration of the DOT, the Office of the Governor, or the legislature. If legislative contact might be effective, can you tell me which legislators or legislative committees have oversight of your budget and substantive priorities?
“Thanks very much for your prompt response to my initial inquiry and any additional assistance you might be able to give me.”