Will charging stations replace Tampa parking meters?

Tampa, Florida - Charging stations could replace parking meters. Well, maybe someday, if a group called "Environment Florida" has its way.

Demonstrating the versatility of electric vehicles, some home-built others manufactured, Tampa's Franklin Street became a-buzz with questions about the future of commuting.

A company called Nova Charge demonstrated what future vehicle charging infrastructure might look like in a downtown setting. Using a prepaid account card, it's waved at a charging station slightly larger than a parking meter. Your vehicle then charges while you go to your job or while you shop. When it's finished charging the network of chargers e-mails or texts you to let you know you're car is charged.

Charging stations are already available in the area, one opened recently in Largo and a couple in the Sarasota/Bradenton area.

Several are available in Orlando and Miami according to Nova Charge President, Helda Rodriguez. "There is a chicken and the egg problem" she says. That's why putting "this infrastructure in place to make the cars driveable for someone driving in from Lakeland to Tampa Bay, the car can easily be recharged while they are here working."

Sarah Bucci, of Environment Florida says, "Having our policy makers put these policies into place, where we're getting more of the infrastructure and more rebates for consumers and businesses to invest in electric vehicles, we'll see more of these on the road."

"Hearing what I did today I think it would be a great thing to have in our parking garages," says Mary Mulhern. The Tampa city council-person cautioned, "I think we need to find out what the demand is, it's got to make sense for us financially for us to install them."

Mulhern says she knows of no ongoing plans by the city of Tampa to install the charging stations. Each free-standing unit costs around 5,000 dollars and can operate as a parking meter.