In a “Back to the Future” moment, Plug’n All Around Arizona Team P3A hummed into Holbrook on April 26, sporting a 2017 Tesla Model X Electric Vehicle (EV) towing the classic 2011 Nissan Leading Economical Affordable Family (LEAF) car known as the Spirit of AZ.
The goal behind the P3A visit was to let the businesses in Holbrook know about a fabulous, nearly free opportunity knocking at their doors: providing electric fueling stations and posting the “EV friendly” location of the stations on the Plugshare App (www.plugshare.com) that is used nationwide by EV owners as they travel across the country.
In a city that has more than 10 gas stations, the concept of creating charging stations was an eye-opener for business owners, like Joe Gallegos, of Joe and Aggie’s Café on Hopi Drive. “I can put in a 240-volt outlet outside my restaurant for a small cost,” said Gallegos. Once the outlet is in place, he can access Plugshare and bring folks to his restaurant.
The Plugshare App allows for pictures and descriptions to be posted for free, giving an opportunity for Holbrook to put in a “plug” and become a popular destination for EV owners, who also can give immediate feedback on the town’s EV friendliness and more.
“When we replace the fossil fuels, we get charging stations,” said Jerry Asher, Public Relations and Outreach Director with Tucson Electric Vehicle Association (TEVA). “Typically, a Nissan LEAF costs $1.80 to charge up, so when someone spends the night or eats at a restaurant, a free charge can be offered.”
Asher suggested that businesses could work together, encouraging folks to spend more time enjoying Holbrook’s amenities such as Route 66 sites, the historic Navajo County Courthouse museum as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes, while their cars charge.
The Holbrook Burger King already has the Tesla Super Charging station, which was put in by the Tesla Corporation and provides free charges for Tesla Model S and X’s driving through the area.
Since the non-Tesla vehicles cannot use that station, it provides an opportunity for local businesses to create charging stations. “It only requires a basic J plug wired to provide a 120-volt or 240-volt charge,” said TEVA President David Gebert.
According to Gebert, with cost of electric vehicles coming down, more people are buying them. He noted, “The sales have been increasing 25 to 30 percent over the past five years. Batteries are being guaranteed for up to eight years or 100,000 miles. There are no belts, no fluids, other than window wiper and brake fluid and no extreme temperatures, so nothing breaks down.”
Asher said he leased the $92,000 Tesla with its 5,000-pound towing package in order to prove that an EV could tow another EV and still have power to spare. The Tesla runs at approximately four cents a mile, compared to the LEAF, which averages approximately two cents a mile, with a starting price of $29,000. Federal and state rebates and incentives are usually offered in the purchase of an EV.
