Costco Removes E.V. Chargers

[Will E Worm]

Citing a Lack of Usage, Costco Removes E.V. Chargers

Costco, the membership warehouse-club chain, was an early leader in offering electric-vehicle charging to its customers, setting an example followed by other retailers, including Best Buy and Walgreen. By 2006, Costco had installed 90 chargers at 64 stores, mostly in California but also some in Arizona, New York and Georgia. Even after General Motors crushed its EV1 battery cars, the Costco chargers stayed in place.

Yet just as plug-in cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt enter the market, Costco is reversing course and pulling its chargers out of the ground, explaining that customers do not use them.

“We were early supporters of electric cars, going back as far as 15 years. But nobody ever uses them,” said Dennis Hoover, the general manager for Costco in northern California, in a telephone interview. “At our Folsom store, the manager said he hadn’t seen anybody using the E.V. charging in a full year. At our store in Vacaville, where we had six chargers, one person plugged in once a week.”

Mr. Hoover said that E.V. charging was “very inefficient and not productive” for the retailer. “The bottom line is that there are a lot of other ways to be green,” he said. “We have five million members in the region, and just a handful of people are using these devices.”

Article

Because no one wants these vehicles. :tongue:

:baconsalt: Electric vehicles.

Who holds back the electric car? We do, we do!

 

[Mr. Hyde]

The problem with electric cars is....you can't just instantly charge them.

If your regular car gets low on fuel, you just fill her up. It takes 5 minutes at most.

If your electric car gets low on battery power....you gotta let that sucker charge up overnight. It's impossible to take an electric car on a long trip. That's pretty damn limiting.

If that can be overcome, and the price comes down, they'll sell.

 

[ban-one]

Because no one wants these vehicles. :tongue:

:baconsalt: Electric vehicles.

Who holds back the electric car? We do, we do!

Damn right. Gimme a big V8 any day. Plus, who doesn't prefer the roar of an engine over the whine of an electric motor? The electric car might win in a drag race with all that torque, but the gas car would go much further, plus it only takes five minutes to refuel and can be refueled anywhere, or with a gas can at the side of the road if you run out.

Anybody see the UK Top Gear where they tested the Tesla? (And yes I know Tesla is disputing Top Gear's claims, but they are trying to protect their product.)

And for those of you who think electric cars are our future, may I remind you of where that electricity comes from?

Coal- that we can't do any more, but China is
Nukes - that we also can't do anymore, but Iran can
Hydroelectric Dams - that we can't build because of fish, but again China is
Liquid Fuels in their various forms - but we can't do that because that's just as bad as the cars, but China is

With solar (needing clear days and lots of land) and wind (needing wind and lots of land, but not in anyone's backyard, and they kill birds yet we still build them) providing very little of the electricity, and China is not.

Also consider this, China doesn't give a crap about its people or the environment, we do and we have done more to make the environment cleaner than anyone else.

 

[Hot Mega]

I envision this as ultimately being a mistake as someone else will probably capitalize on gaining the foothold they are giving up.

I suspect they aren't choosing to do this as much as it's probably necessary as a costco cutting measure for now.:dunno:

Either way, this doesn't spell doom for EVs at all IMO.

 

[Rey C.]

The problem with electric cars is....you can't just instantly charge them.

If your regular car gets low on fuel, you just fill her up. It takes 5 minutes at most.

If your electric car gets low on battery power....you gotta let that sucker charge up overnight. It's impossible to take an electric car on a long trip. That's pretty damn limiting.

If that can be overcome, and the price comes down, they'll sell.

Excellent points. I can see the benefits of a hybrid, but having an all electric vehicle (with the current technology) seems pretty limiting right now, IMO.

But with more and more advances in battery and charging technology, I figure it's only a matter of time before they begin getting it right and get these things down to a better price point. I love high performance cars. But for a commuter/daily driver, I'd rather pay $7/week than $70/week to make mundane trips.

 

[bustybbwlover]

90 spots/chargers at 64 stores isn't exactly a big commitment, i have noticed that anytime i see these spots (at various retailers/malls) they are empty tho

 

[brodkill]

they never did that where i live

 

[Hot Mega]

The problem with electric cars is....you can't just instantly charge them.

If your regular car gets low on fuel, you just fill her up. It takes 5 minutes at most.

If your electric car gets low on battery power....you gotta let that sucker charge up overnight. It's impossible to take an electric car on a long trip. That's pretty damn limiting.

If that can be overcome, and the price comes down, they'll sell.

I can see that perspective but I think the idea of EVs is not just the means of powering the car but that also people's driving behavior will change accordingly.

Meaning smaller trips to places nearby...

I don't know how much can be recharged in the time it takes someone to rummage through a Costco or while doing mall shopping or taking in a movie...(maybe Facetious has spied the recharging data on that) but I think that is more the point of the installations.

Ideally for the companies installing these facilities ....auto manufacturers will have improved the technology to make the installations worthwhile to them.

The installations are probably ahead of the curve on this....but hey, if the g'ment is giving incentives to do it...why not??

 

[Torre82]

A step towards cutting costs in the reality that no one wants to admit cars are ot a symbol of pride thru consumption, but wasteful reminders of a past filled with excess. The automobile is truly an extension of the penis, because people want aesthetics over functionality... or to be offensive, wtf is so unamerican or pussy-like about embracing low horsepower/high MPG in the se days where gas and food are twice the price, tech is supercheap and people need all the help they can get but are STILL unwilling to go against the grain. Grow up or go homeless. See how quickly your ethics fall to the wayside when you have no money and you're starving. There were countless times in the past 3 years I had less than twenty bucks to feed myself for a week. I didn't go out stealing t bone steaks, but I did what I had to. People should exercise some foresighr if they can. Buy a car that gets high mpg, save a bit. Learn what high protein foods do, cuz this next recession/depression is going to test a lotta people. Be prepared.

 

[Hot Mega]

A step towards cutting costs in the reality that no one wants to admit cars are ot a symbol of pride thru consumption, but wasteful reminders of a past filled with excess. The automobile is truly an extension of the penis, because people want aesthetics over functionality... or to be offensive, wtf is so unamerican or pussy-like about embracing low horsepower/high MPG in the se days where gas and food are twice the price, tech is supercheap and people need all the help they can get but are STILL unwilling to go against the grain. Grow up or go homeless. See how quickly your ethics fall to the wayside when you have no money and you're starving. There were countless times in the past 3 years I had less than twenty bucks to feed myself for a week. I didn't go out stealing t bone steaks, but I did what I had to. People should exercise some foresighr if they can. Buy a car that gets high mpg, save a bit. Learn what high protein foods do, cuz this next recession/depression is going to test a lotta people. Be prepared.

I don't agree with every syllable here but rep worthy for it's genius and sense nonetheless.

 

[ban-one]

A step towards cutting costs in the reality that no one wants to admit cars are ot a symbol of pride thru consumption, but wasteful reminders of a past filled with excess. The automobile is truly an extension of the penis, because people want aesthetics over functionality... or to be offensive, wtf is so unamerican or pussy-like about embracing low horsepower/high MPG in the se days where gas and food are twice the price, tech is supercheap and people need all the help they can get but are STILL unwilling to go against the grain. Grow up or go homeless. See how quickly your ethics fall to the wayside when you have no money and you're starving. There were countless times in the past 3 years I had less than twenty bucks to feed myself for a week. I didn't go out stealing t bone steaks, but I did what I had to. People should exercise some foresighr if they can. Buy a car that gets high mpg, save a bit. Learn what high protein foods do, cuz this next recession/depression is going to test a lotta people. Be prepared.

You know, some of us have families to haul around and do work that require large vehicles with lower MPG, that the electric and high MPG vehicles can't do, and aren't just an extension of our penises.

And to your question about what is un-American about it, it's the government forcing these vehicles and their standards down our and the manufacturers' throats and not letting us decide what vehicle is the best choice for us, which as the market shows, is large SUVs and pickups, the only things keeping the Big 3 in business.

 

[Torre82]

I don't agree with every syllable here but rep worthy for it's genius and sense nonetheless.

Just trying to spread some sensibilty around. Sometimes I feel preachy, sometimes I feel like we're just polishing the brass on the titanic. :-( but good advice is free and stupidity is costly. If anyone wants to face reality and save a bit, by all means buy a new prius instead of a charger. If you've got the cock to back it up, lay good pipe and give her a dozen orgasms. Otherwise, waste money, spend on gas and visible signs of testosterone. Your mistake? Either way, whatever you do ...... THATS ON YOU.
I just hand out what ecpetience has shown me. I don't demand you be a sensoble f'ing human. ;-)

 

[Hot Mega]

You know, some of us have families to haul around and do work that require large vehicles with lower MPG, that the electric and high MPG vehicles can't do, and aren't just an extension of our penises.

That is the notion I tended to disagree with in his post. However, in reality his point may not have been intended for you (in an "if the shoe fits wear it" sense) as there are people driving tanks and being a family ..."of one".

And to your question about what is un-American about it, it's the government forcing these vehicles and their standards down our and the manufacturers' throats and not letting us decide what vehicle is the best choice for us, which as the market shows, is large SUVs and pickups, the only things keeping the Big 3 in business.

Tend to agree. This is America where freedom of choice is the most important value and principle in Americanism.

Torre's post was still utterly brilliant as applied to those where the shoe fits.:2 cents:

 

[ban-one]

That is the notion I tended to disagree with in his post. However, in reality his point may not have been intended for you (in an "if the shoe fits wear it" sense) as there are people driving tanks and being a family ..."of one".

Just because you only see one person in a large vehicle, doesn't mean they're a family of one. They could've dropped off their kids, or are on their way to pick them up and are thus in the larger vehicle for that purpose. Or, they could be on their way to pick up something large for their business or just dropped something off, or out shopping for their family and need the room.

Tend to agree. This is America where freedom of choice is the most important value and principle in Americanism.

Torre's post was still utterly brilliant as applied to those where the shoe fits.:2 cents:

If someone wants an electric or high MPG car, and it works in their life, I'm all for them getting it, but with their own money, and not help from government subsidies artificially lowering the price to get people to buy them.

 

[mjk39]

The problem with electric cars is....you can't just instantly charge them.

If your regular car gets low on fuel, you just fill her up. It takes 5 minutes at most.

If your electric car gets low on battery power....you gotta let that sucker charge up overnight. It's impossible to take an electric car on a long trip. That's pretty damn limiting.

If that can be overcome, and the price comes down, they'll sell.

Yes, the video is old, but the idea is not bad afterall...

 

[Hot Mega]

Just because you only see one person in a large vehicle, doesn't mean they're a family of one. They could've dropped off their kids, or are on their way to pick them up and are thus in the larger vehicle for that purpose. Or, they could be on their way to pick up something large for their business or just dropped something off, or out shopping for their family and need the room.

*ahem* I know it's possible for there being unseen family members attached to said tank. But what I am telling you is it is absolutely the case that there are some people driving gas fucking hoggers...who are families of one because was and am one. And know several other people who do the same.:eek::eek:

At one time the smallest engine in the Hot Mega fleet was a 4.6 liter V8, the largest was a 6 liter V12....for one guy, me.

But further to the disagreement though, my interests in driving the particular vehicles I have/had had nothing to do with my cock. I genuinely like and appreciate the automobile and performance.

Again, that's why I understand but only mostly agreed with his post.

If someone wants an electric or high MPG car, and it works in their life, I'm all for them getting it, but with their own money, and not help from government subsidies artificially lowering the price to get people to buy them.

I have no problem with the g'ment providing incentives....

If the worst thing my tax money goes for is giving someone an incentive they otherwise wouldn't have to buy a product theoretically better for some circumstance...then I think I can sleep at night knowing this.

That's a far cry from knowing that my tax dollars contributed to mistakingly orphaning some poor Iraqi kid and scarring him mentally and physically for life.:2 cents:

 

[Rey C.]

You know, some of us have families to haul around and do work that require large vehicles with lower MPG, that the electric and high MPG vehicles can't do, and aren't just an extension of our penises.

And to your question about what is un-American about it, it's the government forcing these vehicles and their standards down our and the manufacturers' throats and not letting us decide what vehicle is the best choice for us, which as the market shows, is large SUVs and pickups, the only things keeping the Big 3 in business.

Outside of the safety, emissions and fuel mileage requirements mandated by the government, how have your choices been limited in any way? You can buy a Prius, a Porsche 911 Turbo or you can buy seven F350 Diesel pickups (one for every day of the week). I've been a "car guy" since I was big enough to crawl. I love cars. But after working in automotive related industries since the mid 90's, I have seen no evidence of what you claim. If you want an SUV that gets 14 mpg, buy one. If you want a sports car that gets about 18 mpg and tops 155 mph, buy one (I have one going up for sale before Labor Day - call me). And if you want a Prius or a Volt, you can buy one of those too.

Personally, I appreciate the fact that we do have choices here. My daily driver is a 300 hp, turbo 4 cylinder that gets about 24 mpg. I make the money to pay the fuel bill so that's my choice. But if gas goes to $6 a gallon, maybe I'll get a Prius-like vehicle and only drive the other one on weekends or whatever. But I'm not like the guys (some gals, but mostly guys) who drive diesel pickups to their office or factory jobs and whine about how much they pay per week for fuel.

As for what's keeping the Big 3 in business, notice that Ford's ability to use flexible manufacturing and switch away from SUV's and pickups enabled them to better weather the downturn. Chrysler sank like a rock because they lived and breathed pickups and SUV's. The margins are better on pickups, SUV's and luxury vehicles. But when fuel prices rise, fewer people buy those and instead switch to smaller, higher mpg vehicles. What is the fastest growing brand in America today? Last I checked it was Hyundai/Kia... and they don't build gigantic land tanks. The Ford F150 is still a best selling vehicle. But the mix of V6's has helped it to maintain that top spot. Same with GM/Chevy.

But I'm all for people buying whatever they want to buy. And you still have that choice.

 

[ban-one]

If anyone wants to face reality and save a bit, by all means buy a new prius instead of a charger.

If you're just gonna be in cities and at slow speeds, yeah the Prius will get better MPG than the Charger.

Highway speeds, maybe not. UK Top Gear pitted a Prius against a BMW M3, and at 55 mph, the M3 gets better millage.

That's because gas millage is really down to how the driver drives the vehicle. You can get horrible millage from a high MPG vehicle by mashing your foot down and driving outside its range of efficiency, and good millage from any vehicle, if you have and watch your tachometer, whether you have a manual or automatic transmission. The higher the RPMs, the worse the MPG. And while speed has something to do with it, it's less than you think because I can get better MPG in my automatic doing 45 than 35 all because of the gear ratios making my engine run at high RPMs for 35 (top end of fourth gear for ~2000RMP) and lower for 45 (low end of fifth gear/OD for ~1500RPM). I actually get the same MPG at 55 that I do for 35, because the RMPs are the same.

Now a manual gets even better, because in the example I gave, it's close enough that I could shift up with no problem, but the computer won't shift the automatic until it thinks it should.

 

[ban-one]

I have no problem with the g'ment providing incentives....

If the worst thing my tax money goes for is giving someone an incentive they otherwise wouldn't have to buy a product theoretically better for some circumstance...then I think I can sleep at night knowing this.

That's a far cry from knowing that my tax dollars contributed to mistakingly orphaning some poor Iraqi kid and scarring him mentally and physically for life.:2 cents:

Incentivizing the purchase of high MPG vehicles may not be the worst thing our government is wasting our taxes and money borrowed from China on, but it is still one of them, and is contributing to our country's mounting debt because we don't have the money to pay for all these subsidies and everything else we're spending money on that we don't need. Which is why I said that if someone wants the thing, they should use their own money, and I would have no problem with them doing so.

And for the record and so we're clear, I think we've been spending way too much for many, many years, going back decades, so this isn't just an Obama thing. He's just the most recent in a long line of Presidents (and Congresses) that have overseen our country's escalating debt and mounting financial problems since WWII.

 

[Will E Worm]

The problem with electric cars is....you can't just instantly charge them.

If your regular car gets low on fuel, you just fill her up. It takes 5 minutes at most.

If your electric car gets low on battery power....you gotta let that sucker charge up overnight. It's impossible to take an electric car on a long trip. That's pretty damn limiting.

If that can be overcome, and the price comes down, they'll sell.

Gimme a big V8 any day. Plus, who doesn't prefer the roar of an engine over the whine of an electric motor?

Read ban-one's comment Mr. Hyde. The whine of the motor and it's like a toy. There's two more reasons no one wants them.

The automobile is truly an extension of the penis.

:nono: No.

It is unAmerican to embrace low horsepower vehicles.