Infrastructure development is one of the biggest obstacles facing the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. But some electric vehicle chargers are already installed in an unlikely place: RV parks.
The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) says that EV owners are welcome to plug-in at several locations across the country that normally provide 50 amp, 240 volt charging stations for parked RVs.
“We’ve been getting quite a few calls from people wanting to charge their vehicles at our park,” said Russ Yates, the owner of Holiday Park Campground in Greensboro, Maryland. According to Yates, demand has been so significant that he decided to install a dedicated EV charger to free-up plugs for campers.
While RV parks might provide a unique solution to EV “fill-ups,” there’s one major drawback. At the Holiday Park Campground, for example, a four-hour charge costs $8.50. While that doesn’t appear to be overwhelming expensive, it is quite more than the $2.75 that Nissan estimates it should cost to recharge the Nissan Leaf. However, the park does offer amenities that EV owners will be able to take advantage of for that price, including scenic river-side parking, Internet access, and a snack shop.
“Most people who come to our park to recharge their vehicles come up to our store and buy snacks,” Yates said. “Or they get on their laptops and send email.”
In addition to the opportunities that reside within RV parks, automakers are working directly with cities and utility partners around the country to boost EV infrastructure development. Although there’s plenty of preparation being made for future charging stations, an ad-hoc EV charging infrastructure could provide a welcomed lifeline for early EV adopters. Still, those EV drivers preparing a cross-country roundtrip should be advised that not all RV parks currently offer this service.
Image: .Larry Page
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