Keys take another green step forward with more electric car-charging stations

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

As the fossil fuel divestment movement picks up torque, being a greener motorist in the Keys just got a little easier – especially if you own a Tesla automobile.

A free Tesla “destination” electric car charging station is now open at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, on the Truman Waterfront in Key West. A second, more powerful “Supercharger” station, will be coming online shortly at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport. The pair join existing “guest only” Tesla destination facilities at the Ocean Key Resort and Spa in Key West, and the Cheeca Lodge and Spa, in Islamorada. The Eco-Discovery Center also boasts a universal charger that works on all electric models, and costs 50 cents per hour to use. The Tesla stations are part of a fast-growing global network of Tesla Motors chargers, according to the company’s website http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/2000-superchargers .

In Key West, the car company provided the charger, while the Florida Tesla Enthusiasts club paid the installation charge. A similar arrangement is being worked out in Marathon.

“[In February] Tesla reached a milestone of 2,000 Superchargers worldwide, located at almost 400 Supercharger Stations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia,” the company claims. “The Tesla Supercharger network is the world’s largest and fastest-growing fast-charging network. In 2014, the number of Superchargers increased five fold. We plan to double the number in 2015.”

Tesla isn’t exactly leading the charge toward area juicing stations, however.

Hotels such as the Silver Palms Inn on Truman, and the Fairfield Inn and Suites on North Roosevelt Boulevard have offered universal charging units to their customers for years.

Tropical Rent A Car and other “egg car” outlets also have their own charging facilities.

In the early 20th century, 38 percent of American cars were powered by electricity, 22 percent by gas, and the rest, steam.

Of course, all that power doesn’t come from a magic tree. It has to be produced somewhere, and in the Keys, that means an electric grid dominated by the aging, 3330 megawatt Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station near Homestead; the largest nuke plant in the state.

In other parts of the country it could mean mostly coal- or natural gas-fired grids.

Still, the chargers are seen as a step in the right direction by environmental advocates such as Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Sean Morton, who pronounced himself “thrilled” to host the new chargers at the Sanctuary-managed Eco-Discovery Center.

[email protected]

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]