Electric Vehicle charging at Walt Disney World

[ptaylor]

I think it is about time that Disney installed some electric car charging stations on property, starting with Epcot and Disney's Animal Kingdom. With the themes of future technologies and conservation, both of these parks should be backing up the talk with action.

You would think that with the Chevrolet Design Center and the huge sponsorship of GM, that it wouldn't take much to get some EV chargers installed. I'm a Volt owner and would very much like to be charing my car when visiting WDW.

Does anyone here travel to WDW with an electric car?

 

[FettFan]

They wouldn't have them at the parks themselves, but I'd expect to see charging stations at resort hotels within the next 15-20 years.

But no, I don't have an electric car. Mostly because electric cars are out of my price range, not time efficient for long trips (11-12 hours from my home to Orlando with gasoline, I'm guessing with having to re-charge every so often it would take me 17-18 hours in an electric), and....honestly I think most of the electric cars on the market are ugly little things.
With the exception of the Tesla Roadster. If I had a spare $110k laying around I totally would have bought one.

 

[Bob]

It would be nice to see them put a small solar farm somewhere on property (somewhere out of public view so that it doesn't break the bubble) to help power any possible future car charging stations.

 

[Master Yoda]

If they were to install them I think it would be more gimmick than practical at this point. In all of my trips over the last few years I have seen a grand total of 1 electric car at WDW, and I do look for them. If they were to be put anywhere on property I think DTD would be the best location as the local traffic (something that current electric cars are much more practical for) would be greater.

 

[Bob]

If they were to install them I think it would be more gimmick than practical at this point. In all of my trips over the last few years I have seen a grand total of 1 electric car at WDW, and I do look for them. If they were to be put anywhere on property I think DTD would be the best location as the local traffic (something that current electric cars are much more practical for) would be greater.

Guess that Austin is an exception to the rule. Electric cars are all over the place here. Then again we were one of the first cities where the Volt and Leaf were sold.

 

[bgraham34]

I think Yoda is right it would be more Gimmick. Unless there was more of a local market with them then Disney really has no need to install them.

 

[Master Yoda]

Guess that Austin is an exception to the rule. Electric cars are all over the place here. Then again we were one of the first cities where the Volt and Leaf were sold.

I am sure that Austin having a Tesla dealership does not hurt either. I love the things and really want one, but I just don't see them here in Jacksonville or Orlando with any frequency. They might be there and I am just missing them, but I would also think that driving an extended distance to WDW in an electric car would not be the most practical use of one. The absence of a charging stations would also be a factor for 100% electric cars like the Tesla and Leaf, not so much for the Volt.

 

[Bob]

I am sure that Austin having a Tesla dealership does not hurt either. I love the things and really want one, but I just don't see them here in Jacksonville or Orlando with any frequency. They might be there and I am just missing them, but I would also think that driving an extended distance to WDW in an electric car would not be the most practical use of one. The absence of a charging stations would also be a factor for 100% electric cars like the Tesla and Leaf, not so much for the Volt.

There are a couple of Model S's that I see on an almost daily basis. Very, very nice cars. The electric car that I think could make a huge inroad all over the place is the upcoming BMW i3. I could see Hertz or Enterprise buying a bunch of those and having them available for folks to use in Orlando.

 

[Master Yoda]

There are a couple of Model S's that I see on an almost daily basis. Very, very nice cars. The electric car that I think could make a huge inroad all over the place is the upcoming BMW i3. I could see Hertz or Enterprise buying a bunch of those and having them available for folks to use in Orlando.

Isn't Austin also somewhat of a "Green" city? (Most of what I know about Austin comes from the Rooster Teeth podcast so I am woefully ignorant about the place)

I do like what I have seen on the i3. Will it be a 100% electric or will it be a plug in Hybrid like the Volt?

 

[Bob]

Isn't Austin also somewhat of a "Green" city? (Most of what I know about Austin comes from the Rooster Teeth podcast so I am woefully ignorant about the place)

I do like what I have seen on the i3. Will it be a 100% electric or will it be a plug in Hybrid like the Volt?

It is very green (ironic that is the capitol for a state that tries to be as un-environmental as possible). Pretty much fights with Portland every year for the title "greenest city in the US".

The i3 is going to be a plugin hybrid similar to the Volt.

 

[Master Yoda]

It is very green (ironic that is the capitol for a state that tries to be as un-environmental as possible). Pretty much fights with Portland every year for the title "greenest city in the US".

The i3 is going to be a plugin hybrid similar to the Volt.

It seems like that design is the most practical with our current infrastructure. I have always wondered why someone has not coupled a turbine generator with a 100% electric vehicle.

 

[wdwmagic]

Isn't Austin also somewhat of a "Green" city? (Most of what I know about Austin comes from the Rooster Teeth podcast so I am woefully ignorant about the place)

I do like what I have seen on the i3. Will it be a 100% electric or will it be a plug in Hybrid like the Volt?

They have two editions of the i3 in the UK at least. One is 100% electric in the style of the leaf, the other is a range extender version in the style of the Volt. I believe both are also heading to the USA markets.

 

[Master Yoda]

They have two editions of the i# in the UK at least. One is 100% electric in the style of the leaf, the other is a range extender version in the style of the Volt. I believe both are also heading to the USA markets.

Are you starting to see more charging station popping up in the UK?

 

[Bob]

They have two editions of the i# in the UK at least. One is 100% electric in the style of the leaf, the other is a range extender version in the style of the Volt. I believe both are also heading to the USA markets.

Here's an article where BMW introduced the i3 here in Austin.

http://www.kvue.com/marketplace/green/BMW-debuts-new-electric-car-in-Austin-218998891.html

 

[MissM]

In all of my trips over the last few years I have seen a grand total of 1 electric car at WDW, and I do look for them.

I've seen a few Volts in the parking lot (and I don't look for them! LOL) but of course, the Volt has a gas engine backup.

While I can't afford an electric or electric/hybrid at this point, it would certainly be nice if hypothetically I could drive out to the parks from Tampa, charge it while I'm in the parks and be ready to head home at the end of the day - and not use any gas in the process! Gas is one of the biggest costs in a day trip since I use about 1/2 a tank to get there and back currently.

 

[wdwmagic]

Are you starting to see more charging station popping up in the UK?

Yep they actually started years ago before there was really anything to use them LOL. The EVs in the UK are still cost prohibitive for most people though, and electricity is expensive compared to the USA, but still cheaper than petrol.

 

[wdwmagic]

Here's an article where BMW introduced the i3 here in Austin.

http://www.kvue.com/marketplace/green/BMW-debuts-new-electric-car-in-Austin-218998891.html

It is a nice looking vehicle, and looks very well engineered. Good to see BMW getting seriously involved in this type of vehicle.

 

[wdwmagic]

I agree with the OP and think the parks should get in on the charging stations. We hear enough about future technologies and innovation from the exhibits at Epcot and they should be practicing what they preach. It would be a novelty for some, but I am sure there has to be some Leaf and Volts floating around amongst locals that could use it.

 

[Master Yoda]

Yep they actually started years ago before there was really anything to use them LOL. The EVs in the UK are still cost prohibitive for most people though, and electricity is expensive compared to the USA, but still cheaper than petrol.

Both conditions are the same here. When a car like the Volt is in the mid $20's, I'll buy one in a heartbeat, but $40k is just too much. I am not sure if there is really a break even point at $40k.

 

[wdwmagic]

Both conditions are the same here. When a car like the Volt is in the mid $20's, I'll buy one in a heartbeat, but $40k is just too much. I am not sure if there is really a break even point at $40k.

Don't you guys have a really big incentive right now from GM and the government on the Volt? We've got a similar thing in the UK, but not a big enough chunk to really turn the tide.