While this sounds like a knock-knock joke, it's no joke! I live in San Antonio, Texas, one of the greenest cities in the country. I love that San Antonio has taken the initiative to provide electric charging stations at easily accessible locations.
What does that have to do with REALTORS? The Texas Commercial REALTORS are noticing that landlords are catching on, that electric car stations are beginning to be in demand. If HEB (a mass merchandising grocery chain in SAT) and Walgreens are offering electric car charging stations then it makes sense that other retailers and now offices put it on the improvements wish list to keep competitive.
If I owned an electric car, and it is something I am considering for 2013, then I'd definitely be shopping HEB over Target, CVS, and other retailers since I'd need to charge my car every 35-50 miles before rolling over to gasoline (I'm looking at hybrids). But if I worked in an office building then there could be an issue so REITs and Landlords are looking at this dilemma, as an opportunity not a cost. From the Landlord perspective, I could gain more traffic for my users (office or retail) if I offered the value added benefit - electric car chargers. While on that topic, why not have a solar conversion option?
While this might sound far fetched, rather Jetson's like, it's here. In fact, you can find charging stations and the city's initiative on the Alamo City Electric Auto Association's site link or My San Antonio Blog. On a national level you can find retailers that are unveiling electric car charging stations on Sustainable Business Site, which are unveiling their programs at the Sustainability Summit in Washington DC, October 3-5, 2012.
Who's already committed? Wal-Mart, Ikea, HEB, Kohl's, Walgreens, Macy's, & Costco.
From a residential perspective, Realtors should know what builders are offering and for how much, home charging stations. They should also know what retailers are proving that option so that they when a builder, such as KB Homes, Meritage, Imagine Homes, or Lennar Homes offer such upgrades they can know where they can re-charge. It's as simple as adding a plug for an outside freezer - with a 240v. To know such things is not all that different than knowing your client drives a Hummer and an F-350 and the HOA doesn't permit such vehicles - we should know about special situations.
Who is offering electic or hybrids? Audi, Chevrolet, & BMW to name a few. Click here for a great list!
For more information you can always join the Alamo City Electric Car Club!
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