Electric Vehicle Showcase

   When it comes to electric vehicle power, Osceola County is plugged in thanks to Sunshine Restaurant Corporation, the Central Florida developer of Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants/sports bars.
   In February, the company introduced Florida’s first restaurant-based electric vehicle charging station.
   Joined by Progress Energy Florida and NovaCharge the event was meant to emphasize Central Florida’s commitment to support electric vehicles. Immediately following the announcement, the group hosted the region’s first electric vehicle showcase, bringing an unprecedented number of electric vehicles together for a free public event.
   County Commissioner Michael Harford cited President Obama’s challenge to have a million vehicles on the road by 2015.
   “To do that we have to have a national network of electric charging stations to be in place,” said Harford, whose district includes the restaurant located in the Formosa Gardens development. “As consumers increase the use of their electrical vehicles, the convenience of recharging must be in place."
   “Osceola’s own GM dealer, Starling Chevrolet will sell its first electric vehicle -- the Chevy Volt -- later this year,” added Harford, who was able to the drive the Volt and several other vehicles during the event.
   Buffalo Wild Wings guest looking for a charge can find station locations, check availability and get directions by using the ChargePoint® Network Find Stations live map.
   “While electric vehicles are great for environmental reasons, we believe there is a strong business case for providing charging stations for our customers,” says Andrew L. Gross, president/CEO of Sunshine Restaurant Corp. “As the number of electric vehicles grows over the coming years, we know customers will choose Buffalo Wild Wings over our competitors because of the ability to charge their vehicle for free while enjoying their favorite sporting event.”
   The showcase included displays and test drives from most of the electric vehicles currently or soon to be available in the United States. In addition to the Volt, attendees were able to test-drive the the Nissan LEAF, the Tesla Roadster and many more.
   During the event, Progress Energy Florida – which is supporting vehicle electrification through several automotive industry partnerships – emphasized the importance of ensuring the infrastructure to support electric vehicles is in place.
   “As the ways our customers use electricity evolve, it’s important that we, as a utility, adapt to their changing energy needs,” says David Maxon, regional vice president of Progress Energy Florida. “We’re taking steps to support the adoption of this exciting, environmentally friendly technology today while determining how we can best support electric vehicles in the long term.”
   “It was exciting to see how quickly Andrew and the Buffalo Wild Wings team embraced the electric vehicle market,” says Helda Rodriguez, president of NovaCharge. “They were able to show why businesses should be embracing charging stations as part of their business plan.”