Ian Sacs on Electric Cars in Hoboken

Update 2/18/2011: I updated this thread since it has been commented on recently and I feel we should be better stewards of this planet and look for sensible ways to move towards sustainability. That doesn't mean I am for impractical solutions that don't work economically but we do have to start somewhere and soon.

Original Post 10/23/2010: There was some discussion about electric cars on another website in Hoboken today that I saw in my RSS reader. I received several emails on this topic as well. I was curious as to what Ian Sacs' response to these inquiries would be as I thought it would be unlikely that he would have been contacted for the piece given its source, or if contacted would potentially distort what was said by Ian. Therefore, I reached out to the Administration and received this statement from Ian Sacs:

Ian Sacs: "Over the next year, several automobile manufacturers will begin selling fully electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States. The City of Hoboken's Department of Transportation and Parking has received inquiries about the logistics of owning electric vehicles in Hoboken, with the main challenge being access to a secure and convenient charging station in our urban environment. It is our belief that electric vehicles complement the Mayor's objectives of sustainability and environmental stewardship, are an important means to reducing local air quality concerns, reducing reliance on petroleum-based fuels, and reducing our city's overall carbon footprint.

That said, if these vehicles are privately owned by individuals, they do not necessarily contribute to reducing local parking and traffic demands. Consequently, we are interested in working collaboratively with residents who are seriously considering the purchase of such vehicles to identify appropriate locations in our municipal parking garages to install the requisite charging station. In general, the relationship would require the resident to shoulder the cost of the charging station and its installation (as would any homeowner), as well as the monthly rate for reserved parking in a municipal garage; the City would not charge a fee for the electricity required to charge the vehicle." ◦

Ian Sacs on Electric Cars in Hoboken