The town of Westport is powering up a parking lot and shrinking a handful of spaces with the idea of reducing the energy consumption of those who drive to the train station.
The town has applied for federal funds to cover most of an estimated $330,000 for installing a solar-powered charging station for electric vehicles at its Metro-North station.
A team of Westport business people and officials plans to establish electric car-charging parking spots at the Westport Metro-North station. After being engaged by Smart, the team recently had a chance to test drive a prototype electric-drive car.
“Having a smart car will yield certain perks such as guaranteed parking at the Saugatuck Train Station and also preferred parking around town,” said Stephen Smith, the building department official for the town of Westport who developed the project. “At the Westport train station, we will be adding solar panels onto the roof and use the energy to charge electric cars that will be allowed to park in the preferred parking spots.”
The town has a loose partnership with Smart and will be looking for cars like its Fortwo electric-drive car manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. The Smart Center of Fairfield ”“ the dealership that sells the vehicles locally ”“ and Penske Automotive Group ”“ which owns a variety of dealerships countywide ”“ recently took test drives.
The car has a regenerative braking system and builds back power while a car is coasting and even more so when it is braking.
“It was a good opportunity to get a feel of the car and publicize our electric charging initiative,” said Gordon Joseloff, first selectman of Westport. “It”™s a very smooth ride.”
The project is being led by Joseloff and was conceived by Smith. It is being supported by community organizations that include The Green Energy Task Force and The Green Village Initiative. The project architects are Frederick Hoag and John Rountree, both Westport-based architects. Rountree, principal at Westport Solar Consultants, will be responsible for designing the solar system. Leo Cirino, director of engineering and research at Elektron Solar and an ardent supporter of electric vehicles, is acting as technical advisor
The plan calls for a 30-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system driven by panels on the roof of the eastbound station house that would fuel chargers at 20 narrow spots for electric cars that would be located near the station platform.
“The concept solves a couple of problems,” said Smith. “We have a waiting list at the train station for parking spots, we also have an underutilized eastside of the train station and we generally need to try to be more green.”
Smith said the incentive of having preferred parking throughout the town plus being able to get free fuel while parked at the train station should help to encourage a more efficient commute.
“It takes a little push for people to try something new,” said Smith. “There”™s two components to this: There”™s the solar and the car charging and then there”™s the renovation of the building.”
The last major change to the station occurred in 1969 to accommodate higher platforms. Currently, the building houses Teddies Taxi, Lilly”™s Coffee Shop and a modest waiting room.
According to Rountree, the plan will convert 10 normal size spots into 20 electric spots, each with charging stations. Also included with the project will be a kiosk and help desk as part of the renovations to the station building. The cars that will park in the spots have to be 9 feet or less in length, but do not have to be Smart cars.
“They”™re just a bit ahead of the curve as to what they can offer in terms of electric,” said Rountree. “We”™re doing this on our scale, but you can do this anywhere. Most stations have a side that is underutilized and the large roofs are perfect for solar ranges.”
Smith said Smart saw the Westport plans when he attended the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Center.
“If you”™re selling Smart cars this is the kind of thing you drool over,” said Smith.
Derek Kaufman, vice president of business development at Smart USA, has been meeting in towns to talk to them about the prospects of promoting electric vehicles on the entire I-95 corridor.
“We will be introducing this vehicle along the I-95 corridor,” said Kaufman. “It”™s a perfect commuting car. It”™s not the kind you can get in Westport and drive to Florida. Westport is going to be one of the first innovators, advocates and early adopters of our product. They are certainly at the forefront.”
