News

By Sallie James

    Driving an electric car makes sense in so many ways: no gasoline costs, no toxic emissions, and one of the quietest rides around. But access to a charging station is essential if the battery runs low.
    For Boca Raton residents, that worry may soon be a thing of the past.
    In the spirit of “going green,” council members recently proposed that new multifamily dwellings such as apartments and condominiums put chargers in their parking lots.
    The proposal comes after the city recently installed two new stations at City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road, and one at the Spanish River Library, at 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd. Each can recharge two vehicles at a time, enabling users to top off their cars within hours while visiting the libraries or downtown.
    The first EV charging station was installed in October 2015 at the Downtown Library.
    “The hope is that the stations are an added benefit and that they support and encourage drivers of electric vehicles,” said Dan Grippo, municipal services director for Boca Raton.
    The Boca Raton City Council recently passed a resolution adopting a climate action pledge and is continuing its efforts to integrate “green” actions within the framework of the Regional Climate Action Plan.
    “We hope that more commercial businesses will follow our lead and start installing stations as well,” said Mayor Susan Haynie. “Transportation models are changing and electric vehicles are a big part of that change; we all need to do our part.”