Amenity

THE ISSUE: Electric cars.

OUR OPINION: More power to them.

Good for Inverness for taking an interest in accommodating those who get a charge from driving electric cars.

The Inverness City Council recently OK’d an agreement to have a power company locate two electric vehicle service (EVS) stations at the government center.

In encouraging the council to make the move, City Manager Frank DiGiovanni said the charging stations would attract “green-minded” tourists to the city, noting many who drive electric cars also enjoy cycling, kayaking and other activities available in and around the city.

He noted that three Lake County cities, including scenic Mount Dora, have charging stations, and there are “apps” that enable drivers of electric vehicles to see where they can travel with an assurance they can recharge if and when the car runs low on juice.

Electric cars such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are more espensive than many standard vehicles, but at a cost of about $1.50 a day to operate, many environmentally minded consumers feel the tradeoff is worth the initial investment.

However, with an average range of about 90 miles per charge, it will be necessary for an increasing number of locations to establish EVS stations for electric cars to become practical for those wishing to travel any great distance.

By moving ahead with establishing EVS stations, the city of Inverness will distinguish itself as a desirable location for electric car owners. While it may take time to catch on, the offering will pay off for businesses catering to tourists and the community as a whole.