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Spain Might Convert Phone Booths to Charging Stations

September 17, 2009 in EVs by kristen | No comments

In their efforts to install 500+ electric car charging stations throughout Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville, the Spanish government is looking into converting 30 public phone booths to recharge EVs. The booths are close the curb, making it a short stretch for a charging cord, and they’re already wired for electricity to power the phones.

It may cramp Superman’s quick-changing style, but the phone booths in Madrid weren’t fully enclosed anyway, making them even easier to adapt for charging. Nothing’s official yet, but it would be a sweet spot monetarily and ecologically if Madrid can repurpose its existing infrastructure for new technologies.

Swedish McDonald’s to Charge EVs

February 18, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs by kristen | 2 comments

Swedes will soon be able to offset their guilt at supporting big agribusiness and cultural hegemony by charging their electric vehicles while they eat at McDonald’s.

The company is buying bright-yellow curbside charging stations with the red-and-gold arches logo for customers to use, though the system will be run by the national grid. Each charger supplies 230 volts, which is enough power to charge up one of the EVs currently on the market in under an hour.

The first McPowerstation, as I’m sure they are not called, will be installed in the next few months. No word on how much — or if — customers will pay for the electrons fueling their cars.