Showing posts with label tesla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tesla. Show all posts

Friday, October 11, 2013

EVs and Yoga - Of Course


 Even with the drizzle in the air we had decent foot traffic

The other weekend the New Jersey Electric Auto Association joined in on a wellness event called Wellness: Mo-Town.  The idea for us was to show our cars to an audience that was not there to see EVs or talk green, they were there for health and wellness, I for one feel EVs are all about both so this was a perfect venue.

As luck would have it the weather on that day was foggy with drizzle, but that did not stop us from bringing our EVs and talking with the attendees.

Yoga was well under way (Photo by Kevin Coughlin)

I found that the folks that came by to talk with us were truly interested in EVs and not at all hesitant to speak with us.  Whether it was a pure EV or extended range like a VOLT they were very interested in one as their next car.  Of course we ran into a couple of those who just don't want to get it but otherwise the majority of our visitors were keen on the idea and were curious how we got along with them.  We of course were more than happy to tell them how much we loved driving an EV and how much sense it made.  Many of the visitors had families with them and were immediately drawn to the two Honda Fit EVs especially the one with the roof box and two child seats in the back....it made an EV very real for them.  

Overall a good crowd and the right crowd, a few were now going to check EVs out at their dealer, always good.  The event was a little lighter than expected due to the weather but our section got pretty busy.  Oh, and not once was I asked if I worked for BMW, a first!   

We were even picked up in Morristown Green.  Check it out to see us and the rest of the event

Zero S, Tesla Roadster, BMW ActiveE, 2 Honda Fit EVs

The Ford Focus EV joined us a bit later....all the way up front

Ben conducting an interview with Morristown Green

The Fit EVs are always a hit with families

Monday, August 19, 2013

The Most Rewarding 25,000 Miles I've Ever Traveled

I recently rolled past the 25,000 mile mark and had time to reflect about what I thought of my ActiveE and driving an EV.  After a year and a half, simply, I'm loving it!!

So many thoughts and words come to mind but I have to say it is the overall experience, it just feels right.  I currently drive 80 miles round trip daily and I'm not dreading it.  I look forward to hopping into my ActiveE and driving, I enjoy taking longer routes home, if only there were some public charging stations along my route I'd drive a little extra.

People coming up to the car and asking about it never gets old and showing the car off at events is awesome.  Speaking of events this has been a very busy summer for them, nearly one event after another and its not over.  How much do I enjoy showing the car and talking and spreading EV luv....see below....

Long Valley NJ Green Festival
8.17.13

 Prepping for the event

I eventually squeezed my up into the action on the grass - much better.  Nobody heard me sneak in

Cars and Croissants - Chatham NJ
8.10.13

 A bit of red here

Always fun to park adjacent to a classic

Cars and Coffee - Ridgewood NJ
8.14.13

I was their first EV, great turn out.  That's a pre-production M6 Gran Coupe next to me...good to know peeps at BMW

Tesla Owners Club Meet-Up - Paramus NJ
8.14.13

 Right after Cars and Coffee I rolled on down and crashed the Tesla Users Meet-up - Well...I was invited

 Nice to get attention, we don't compete - all EVs are amazing and compliment each other - this gave folks a chance to see other EVs that are on the road or coming and talk shop. 

These Model Ss look like they are going to take a bite out of my rear

Not staged...we really had to push an ICE vehicle for a rolling start at the Tesla Meet-up - nice ZR1 though 

Getting a boost at Bergen Community College before my next adventure 

Cars and Croissants - Hacklebarney State Park
7.27.13

On the way to Cars and Croissants Hacklebarney Park, Long Valley  - was hoping to recruit this guy to join me...no dice 

We had 2 Honda Fit EVs join us - awesome 

A very good turn out and 4 EVs in total 

This is really a great event, all cars welcome

We are usually the last to leave 

Offered my Fit EV friend a boost before he headed home - wow these Fit EVs charge fast!


NJEAA SmartED Ride and Drive - Wagner Farms
6.30.13

A full review of this event can be found at InsideEVs


We had two SmartEDs (Electric Drives) to toss around


 We brought a few other EVs show up - Mitsubishi iMiEV, Tesla Roadster, Tesla Model S, Ford Focus EV, BMW ActiveE and the Chevy VOLT

 This was a fun little EV - very stable

Something you don't see very often - an EV chasing other EVs



Cars and Croissants - Chatham NJ
6.29.13


Forming our EV row - a SmartED joined us


 The Honda Fit EV always draws attention

 The SmartED was the crowd favorite

Father's Day Cars and Croissants - Summit NJ
6.16.13

The biggest Cars and Croissants to date - 500 cars

Yes that really is a potato and a few visitors really thought we got a boost


 We had a lot full of EVs - 2 Tesla Roadsters, 1 Tesla Model S, 1 BMW ActiveE, 1 Honda Fit EV, 1 Nissan LEAF, 1 Chevy VOLT, 1 Prius Plug-in and 1 Zero S motorcycle

 Group shot

Metuchen Cruise Night
6.6.13


 On main street - joined by a Nissan LEAF and a Zero S motorcycle

The ActiveE was very popular


Monday, June 3, 2013

Charge Up and Eat Up



Ever wondered what restaurants there are that have EVSEs for customer use?  It would be so convenient to be able to get a bite to eat while you charge up your EV in an EV friendly place.  Unless you already know of those places you are probably out of luck since the EVSE locator apps don't let you search by business category.

I figured I will do something about it, I'll build a map listing all the restaurants or food places that installed EVSEs for their customers.

The qualifications are pretty simple.  I'm looking for restaurants that installed EVSEs specifically for their customers.  EVSEs near a restaurant that the restaurant owner/management did not install don't count.  Hotels with restaurants count as long as the customer can plug in and eat but not have to stay the night. With that said I will also be including chains and franchises, specific locations, so if a McDonalds has an EVSE for customers to use it counts.

I'd like to call upon the EV community to help me populate the map.  Please submit locations you know of to myactivee(@)gmail(.)com (delete brackets) or post them in the comments section.

Please include the business name, full address, website and phone number if you have it, plus, any other details you think may help like where the EVSE is located.  I will verify each submission to be sure they have a working EVSE and it is for customers as well as what kind of EVSE it is and what fees if any.

If all looks good I'll add it to the map which you can find HERE (last updated 6.21.13)

I'm using Google Maps to plot the locations

Thanks in advance for the help....check back often for updates.


Since I live in NJ let me share the three that are here.

Nauna's Bella Casa
148 Valley Rd, Montclair, NJ


Centrally located and within 15 miles of NYC as well as easy access to other parts of Northern NJ is Nauna's.  Tom Moloughney, owner and friend on mine as well as a passionate EV advocate (he drives an ActiveE) installed two Level 2 chargers in his restaurant parking lot.  You will find one from ChargePoint and one from Ecotality (Blink).  There is also a bike rack.

Juicing up at Nauna's

This is a very busy EV location and you will often see another EV charging up there.  When you go in ask for Tom, you will have a great EV conversation and get additional inside scoops on the industry, don't forget to visit his blog here

Restaurant Details:
Note: Their calzones are huge and the staff extremely friendly. 

EVSE details:
  • Two marked parking spots near the front entrance. Pull into parking lot and turn to your right.  The ChargePoint is on your right and the Blink is on your left, both at the end of lot.  
  • The ChargePoint is a dedicated EV space, the Blink is not.  If both EV spots are taken and you need a boost go inside and ask for Tom.  If he is there he can help you out.
  • ChargePoint Level 2 and Level 1 - ChargePoint Network card required - Charging is free
  • Ecotality (Blink) Level 2 - Blink Membership card required - there is a $1 fee per hour to charge

Mrs Riley's Publik House
4-6 Main St, High Bridge, NJ 08829


In the Western part of NJ along Rt. 78 is Mrs. Riley's which has two Level 2 chargers from AeroVironment.  John and Denise Hickson, the owners, drive a Nissan LEAF.  Mrs. Riley's was actually the first charge-up spot for Men's Health Electric Car Challenge in 2012 - a drive across the US - read about their visit here

The front of Mrs. Riley's - Chargers are around back from Center St.

4-6 Main St High Bridge, NJ 08829 is the address. My GPS can't do 4-6 so I entered 4 and was fine.

Plugged in around back

Restaurant Details:
  • Food: American
  • Family friendly: Yes
  • Liquor license: Yes
Note: They have a huge selection of good beers on tap and bottled and the customers there are always excited to see another EV

EVSE details:
  • Chargers are accessible in the restaurant lot behind the building on Center St. - pull in and they are all the way to the back left.
  • Two AeroVironment Level 2 EVSEs and one Level 2.  
  • No network card needed, just plug in - free charging
  • This is a gravel lot so there are no marked EV spaces.  If blocked walk in and talk to the staff, they will help you out.

Smokey's Brick Oven Tavern
2 Vernon Crossing Rd, Vernon Township, NJ


I've have not been to Smokey's yet but it is located up in Northern NJ near the boarder of NY and has two Level 2 Chargepoint EVSEs.  According to ChargePoints site they are solar powered and from pictures I saw online they have a Nissan LEAF that they make deliveries in.

Restaurant Details:
EVSE details:
  • It looks like they have the stations near the entrance along McAfee Glenwood Road - go in and they should be to your right
  • Two ChargePoint Level 2s - ChargePoint Network card required - Charging is free

With the locations of these restaurants Northern NJ is covered.  You can shop, take a drive with the family and explore the pretty country and small towns and charge up your EV while you charge up yourself or family with a bite to eat.  I hope Southern NJ is not far behind.


All of Northern NJ is pretty much fully accessible with an EV


Not New Jersey but the owner used to drive a Mini E and now he drives a Think!

Cliff's Elbow Room
1549 Main Rd, Jamesport, NY


I have not eaten there but I see his posts on FB and the food looks amazing.  They have one Clipper Creek Level 2 EVSE.  Their website is http://www.elbowroomli.com/ and FB page is https://www.facebook.com/cliffselbowroom

A final note but a very important one.....please be responsible and use Charging Etiquette.  The restaurants listed above have all installed these chargers on their own dime and in most cases charging is free for you.  The owners believe in EVs so please be courteous and stop in for some food if you are using their chargers and say hello.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

EVlicious EVent

The NJ East Coast EVent was a huge success today, 30+ EVs and over 20 were ActiveEs...thanks to Tom Moloughney our host and fellow Electronaut.  I remember the first event we had at his place in  August of 2009 with the MiniEs, I think there were just 8 cars.  You can see my original post on that past event here.

In just a few years the EV buzz has escalated, bad press or not, you can't stop the excitement about these cars....they are coming and this time they are coming from many manufacturers.   These are not the days of the EV1 when there was just one manufacturer, today we have over 10 serious brands announcing or have released EVs for the public.  That's right, it is not just GM alone, it is now GM, Tesla, Toyota, Ford, BMW, Volvo, Mitsubishi, Nissan, VW, Audi and Coda to list the key EV brands with 100% EVs or plug-ins.

Today at the NJ East Coast event we had present; BMW ActiveE, Tesla Roadster, Mitsubishi MiEV, Nissan LEAF, Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius Plug-in, a ZENN and a converted pick-up truck...very cool.  There were even a couple of film crews.

So without further ado here are the pics from today

 I showed up early - my ActiveE is on the right

 Soon more began to arrive

 Some MiEVs pulling in

 We had two Nissan LEAFs come today

 ActiveE row

 A custom EV

 In a word...EVlicious

A naked ActiveE - we are allowed to remove the stripes if we like

ActiveEs to our left

ActiveEs to our right

 We are an ActiveE family

 This is called a ZENN

I fantastic day and now time to head home

As an FYI I did about 55 miles round trip to get to the event, mostly highway, with steep hills and at times over 70mph. Car was full of stuff and 3 people including me.  On the way I was in EcoPro no heat and on the return trip EcoPro was off and I had the AC on the entire return trip...still had 38 miles left when I got home...I'll take it!!