Besides cheaper fuel, a cleaner tail pipe, and nicer car, there are other benefits of owning a Nissan Leaf like my 2012, Electra. I am starting to take these things for granted, but yesterday's example reiterated how fun owning an electric vehicle can be.
Down the street from my house is the main power plant for TECO, our local power company here in Tampa. Although it's one of the dirtiest power plants in the state, it's got a great PR campaign. Part of its campaign is to draw folks to its official Manatee Viewing Area. What used to be just a little deck that visitors could stand to view over 100 manatees as they come to over-winter on the warm run-off spewed from the power plant, has now become a giant tourist destination. They have an environmental center, gift shop, elevated walkway, viewing area, and snack bar. And a huge parking lot.
But alas, the giant parking lot is not giant enough. Yesterday was a cold Tampa day (around 45 degrees), which is perfect for manatee viewing. The colder Tampa Bay is, the more the manatees want to enjoy TECO's hot tub. My family and I decided to go see the manatees one last time before the water warms up, so Electra and the family headed to the viewing area. There was no place to park. Cars were double and tripled parked in the parking lot, and they overflowed to the main street leading up the viewing center.
Yet, right up front, closest to the manatees were two, green-painted parking spots for electric vehicles and accompanying Chargepoint chargers. Granted, one spot was ICED, but the other welcomed Electra and my family. We parked, plugged, and participated in the viewing while others circled the parking lot hoping for a spot. It was a treat not to have to wait for a spot and trudge through the packed parking lot.
Although Florida doesn't have many EV benefits as a state, there are other states that do. These benefits include acccess to HOV lanes and free tolls. I'm looking forward to taking advantage of these other benefits. But for now, I'll enjoy my front-row parking. Thank you TECO.
