Last hurdle to the electric car cleared

They seem to be at every exit anyway. When you need a charge stop in, have a chicken fried steak, some peanut brittle, and plug in the car.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7317669.html

Cracker Barrel to offer electric vehicle chargers

LEBANON, Tenn. — Cracker Barrel, modeled to represent a slower time of rocking chairs on old wooden porches, will soon feature a very modern technology - electric vehicle chargers.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. has launched a pilot project in which it will install Blink electric vehicle chargers, provided by Ecotality Inc., at 24 restaurants across Tennessee.

The pilot is part of a broader effort by Ecotality, based in Tempe, Ariz., to get charging stations in more places across the country. The lack of charging stations, along with the high cost of vehicles, are major hurdles to the spread of electric vehicle technology.

Cracker Barrel restaurants are mostly located near major highways where travelers can get to them, and back on the road, easily. Ecotality said this makes them an ideal fit for the charging stations. About 40 percent of Cracker Barrel guests are travelers.

Guests will be able to get a full charge in less than 30 minutes at 12 DC Fast Charging stations. Chargers at the other 12 locations will take longer, but the companies didn't say how long.

There will be a charge for the service, but the prices haven't yet been set, Cracker Barrel spokeswoman Julie Davis said Tuesday.

The chargers are expected to be installed over a few months starting next spring.

Let's review. Nissan is releasing the Leaf. Nissan's North American headquarters is in Tennessee. Nissan also has a couple manufacturing plants in Tennessee as well as their financing arm. Now out of the blue with no mention of Nissan an Arizona company strikes a deal with Cracker Barrel to install chargers in the state of Tennessee?

There is more to this story.

I think that's pretty cool. I love me some cracker barrel food when I travel. It ain't cheap, but you rarely see one that isn't packed.

In other news the Deptartment of Energy has provided Ecotality $100 Million to roll out their charging stations iin support of the Leaf in 5 states, including, of course, TN.

Egad! It's the beginning of the end.

I just noticed that the 2011 edition of the National Electric Code will have provisions for electric car charging stations.

My very first business trip I was put at a hotel next to a Cracker Barrel. I didn't have a car, so I had to walk to get food. I go next door to the Cracker Barrel "Old Country Store", look in the front window and see all that country stuff for sale. For the next week, I walk 2 miles down the road to the Waffle House for breakfast and dinner. Wasn't until they came to Pittsburgh that I found out that the darn place is a restaurant!

Let the commuters use up all of the electricity. We'll still have our dead dinosaurs.

"I'll have the chicken fried chicken with sawmill gravy, hash brown casserole, and a sweet tea. Oh, and can I have 50 Watts to go?"

Derick Freese wrote: Let the commuters use up all of the electricity. We'll still have our dead dinosaurs.

magazine quoteworthy!

TJ wrote: Let's review. Nissan is releasing the Leaf. Nissan's North American headquarters is in Tennessee. Nissan also has a couple manufacturing plants in Tennessee as well as their financing arm. Now out of the blue with no mention of Nissan an Arizona company strikes a deal with Cracker Barrel to install chargers in the state of Tennessee? There is more to this story.

They will serve Jack Daniels at every Cracker Barrel?

Didn't some Walmarts have the wiring and such installed to be able to do the same? Dual purpose for RVs and electric cars back before old Sam died? Maybe just urban legend, but not a bad idea.

Cracker Barrel restaurants are mostly located near major highways where travelers can get to them, and back on the road, easily. Ecotality said this makes them an ideal fit for the charging stations. About 40 percent of Cracker Barrel guests are travelers.

I thought the main buyers of electric cars were using them in the city and for short trips - not long highway runs because they don't have that sort of range yet.

In reply to Nitroracer:

Cracker Barrel is between my house and train station so I could top off there instead of home while I had breakfast.

Isn't the range on these like 40 miles??

I like some country fried steak with mashed potatoes, but having it every 12 times a day on a trip to Florida would probably kill me.

^ I could sit in a rockingchair for 30 min no problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7-AjT1ORN0

The Wheego. 70mph, 100 mi range.

Derick Freese wrote: Let the commuters use up all of the electricity. We'll still have our dead dinosaurs.

This quote reminds me of the old Car Wars RPG. In the game's post-apocolyptic world, most cars are electric/fuel cell powered. Charging outposts (forts in more lawless areas) were placed along travel routes. Gasoline cars still existed, but were reserved as play toys for the rich.

Amusingly enough, Car Wars (first written in the early 80's) 'future' was roughly about... now.

Personally, I have no problem at all with replacing my commuter car with something electric and letting my gas cars remain as toys. I have my fingers crossed that by the time my TDI is due for replacement, I'll be able to buy an Aptera on the East Coast.

lets see now... my annual trip to Daytona for the Rolex is ~ 500 mi. give or take a bit... the Leaf's range is supposedly 100 mi... ( the EPA says it' s more like 70mi)

so assuming Nissan is correct... that means I'd have to "refuel" 4 times , assuming I could find a Cracker Barrel exactly 100 mi from the last one... that would add at least 2 hrs to the trip ... probably closer to 3 hrs...

don't see one in my future

Nothing was said in the release how the CB will handle the problem of multiple electric cars showing up at breakfast wanting to recharge ie for the commute into work. I can see drama in the parking lot.

spitfirebill wrote: I think that's pretty cool. I love me some cracker barrel food when I travel. It ain't cheap, but you rarely see one that isn't packed.

I dislike cracker barrel's chicken and dumplings. Dumplings should be made out of dough, not noodles

I like their meatloaf but it comes out of a tube.