The Peninsula's High Demand for Electric Cars: Part 2

In my , I reported on the local availability of the two newest electric vehicles, the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt, and found that on the Peninsula, demand far exceeds supply.

But if you’re in the market for an electric vehicle, signing up on the waiting list for a LEAF or Volt isn’t your only option.

Electric Vehicles from Toyota and Honda

Both Toyota and Honda plan to release 2012 plug-in versions of their current hybrid cars. Remember from Part 1: A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle can run on its electrical battery and then kick into hybrid mode when the battery runs out of juice or you accelerate to high speeds.

If you’re interested in Honda’s upcoming plug-in Civic hybrid, you’ll have to sit tight. Mike Harvey Honda in Burlingame says dealerships are currently not taking reservations for the car. (There are other local Honda dealers in Colma,  and Redwood City).

As for Toyota’s 2012 plug-in Prius, you can pre-register for the car online, and the company will contact you when you are able to register for the car. Andrey Kamenetsky, sales manager at Burlingame’s Putnam Toyota, says about 250 people have signed up on their waiting list since it opened in late April. (Other Toyota dealers are located in , Daly City and Redwood City).

The Quickest Route to an Electric Vehicle

What’s the quickest way to become an electric vehicle owner? It’s actually by converting your current hybrid into a plug-in, but it only works on the 2004-09 Prius.

A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos is one of a handful of auto body shops in the U.S. certified to convert Prius cars into plug-in’s. For around $11,000, this local auto repair shop can install a battery pack in a Prius, enabling the car to drive from 30 miles to 40 miles on one electrical charge before switching back into hybrid gear.

Unlike charging the Volt or LEAF, you won’t need to install a special home charger; you can plug in your re-vamped Prius to any standard 110-volt outlet. Recharging an empty battery takes about 5.5 hours and costs about 50 cents for a typical Peninsula utility customer, says Eric Sevim, owner of A+ Japanese Auto.

Sevim points out that an ideal client for the plug-in conversion is someone using the Prius for their daily commute, rather than a few short trips during the day. Due to state regulations, Sevim says, the gas engine runs for about two minutes to warm up the catalytic converter every time the car starts. A driver using the plug-in for a few stop-and-go errands throughout the day would use up gas every time he turned the car back on.

Charging Your Electric Vehicle on the Go

"Range anxiety"—the fear of your electric vehicle’s battery running out of juice before you reach your destination—often prevents people from considering an electric vehicle purchase.

But the Bay Area’s infrastructure of electric vehicle charging stations is growing, thanks to a $1.3 million investment from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Under the environmental agency’s program, 400 public chargers and six fast chargers, which help extend battery range in a rush, will be installed throughout the Bay Area in the next year. Chargers are planned for locations on the Peninsula, including Menlo Park, Redwood City, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale, according to Aaron Richardson, the air district's spokesman.

The air district will also be contributing $3.9 million toward rebates for residents who install home electric vehicle chargers and to pay for 30 fast chargers on the coast, to connect with a network of fast electric vehicle chargers along the Pacific Northwest corridor.

The home charging rebate program should roll out in the next few months, Richardson says. If you’re interested, contact the air district’s vendors directly:ECOtality, Coulomb Technologies, AeroVironment and Clipper Creek.

For additional Bay Area electric vehicle resources, visit the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s website.