Use charging stations as a loss-leader

Solution Details:

Pain Point:  Who will pay for the infrastructure?

General Implementation Strategy:  Make the private actors, who will benefit from the revolution in the long-term pay

Primary Actors:  Business

Other solutions to this pain point:

• Rate base the infrastructure
• Prove why this helps several departments, like air quality, and raise money from them
• Provide infrastructure grants and loans
• Emphasize public good to justify public expenditure
• Install public charging facilities in municipal parking lots
• Local universities/colleges provide campus charging and free parking for plug-ins
• Provide a low interest loan to pay for capital
• Provide plug-in infrastructure information specifically for banks/financiers
• Focus on PHEVs which dont need infrastructure
• Focus sales on consumers who DO have a home charging spot
• Infrastructure acupuncture: Strategically position charging stations for optimal use
• Conduct survey of early plug-in adopters to determine projected level
• Focus charging stations along highways and other primary corridors of travel
• Rate base infrastructure installation of infrastructure
• Provide developers with information on charging infrastructure operation
• Provide developers with information on charging infrastructure installation, regulation, incentives etc.
• Allow philanthropists to 'donate' a charge station
• Sell space on charge spots as green-associated advertising
• Show developers how plug-in infrastructure could differentiate their product
• Convince local businesses to build charge spots to show environmental leadership
• Bundle infrastructure contribution with plug-in purchase or lease
• Generate funds from a variety of sources
• Public investments in plug-in infrastructure match private-sector investments or vice versa
• New home/parking deck building codes require wiring to support plug-ins
• Provide rebate to green developers and commercial retailers
• Create business case for builders interested in installing plug-in infrastructure
• Show parking lot owners how to make money by providing 'charge services'
• Install chargers as employee/resident benefit
• Connector/service companies build infrastructure
• Encourage OEMs to sell their own charge stations
• Use the municipality tax base to pay
• Train installers to do install chargers quickly, efficiently

Other solutions that fall into this general strategy:

• Show parking lot owners how to make money by providing 'charge services'
• Install chargers as employee/resident benefit
• Connector/service companies build infrastructure
• Encourage OEMs to sell their own charge stations

Other solutions for this primary actor:

• Free/reserved parking at retail, commercial and other private lots
• Provide consumers with access to a 'user support' house call service
• Corporate sponsor provides free life-time charging for x consumers
• Provide developers with information on charging infrastructure operation
• Bundle infrastructure contribution with plug-in purchase or lease
• Generate funds from a variety of sources
• Public investments in plug-in infrastructure match private-sector investments or vice versa
• Use the municipality tax base to pay
• Attach to existing, powered, curbside devices such as gas stations and light poles
• Convince local businesses to build charge spots to show environmental leadership
• Show parking lot owners how to make money by providing 'charge services'
• Install chargers as employee/resident benefit
• Connector/service companies build infrastructure
• Fleets commit to buy a certain number of plug-ins
• Employers incentivize employee plug-in purchase, provide education and charge spots at work
• Sponsor an plug-in related contest for students
• Allow employees to volunteer and give plug-in related presentations to schools
• Invite educators or promising students to shadow plug-in using employees for a day
• Pooled-purchase plug-in orders
• Help consumers understand full life-cycle value of battery
• Ensure plug-ins are used as high-profile vehicles
• Battery lease service
• Implement car share model
• Home charging station warranty
• Explore/support secondary battery markets
• Leverage the collaborative power of a dedicated project leader
• Establish connection between project manager and a point person on the local regions' economic development board
• Free desirable parking at major retail, entertainment, commercial lots, with or without charge spots
• Car comes with bike, bus pass, and light rail pass
• Early roll-out in taxi fleet, rental cars, corporate fleets.
• Hold a competition for the trial of a vehicle fleet engaging consumers through various mediums

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