94704_1.txt revised 2/25/02 Your name:___Press release__________ Date: __3/_7__/2000 Michael Schwabe 2/24/02 Location Name:___Center Street Garage _________________________________________ Address: _2025_Center Street Between Shattuck and Milvia Streets__ City: _____Berkeley_________________ State: _CA Zip code:__94704___ Thomas Bros. map grid: _629-G2 Latitude: _37.87022__ Longitude: ____-122.27007_ Alt.: 215 ft. Verified location? (Y/n) ___Y No. of chargers: (inductive) Small paddle ______0__ large paddle ___1______ KW: (5/6/U) ____5___ No. of charging stations: (conductive) Avcon ____1___ Other ____0____ (specify type) Instructions for finding charger site and charger location on site: From I80 take the University exit east. Follow University until Milvia, make a right. Make a left either onto Addison or one block further onto Center. There are entrances to the garage from either one of those streets. Take the ramps up to the fourth floor. The garage is very deceptive the way it's built and it seems like you are going upp more than four floors. Follow the charging station signs. On the fourth floor, the charging stations will be on your left as you come up the ramp, and then on your right directly in front of the fourth floor elevators. Berkeley, California (March 7, 2000) – Parking in Downtown Berkeley just got a little easier; for those who use an electric vehicle, that is. The City of Berkeley has just installed two electric vehicle-charging stations at the CenterStreet Garage in the Downtown. The two chargers, which are located on the fourth floor of the garage, allow owners of the two most common types of electric vehicles to re-charge while they shop, see a movie, or pay a parking ticket in Downtown. There are two parking spots that can access the chargers. One of these sites is reserved for electric vehicles only, for up to three hours at a time. The site next to it is also available but is not restricted to electric vehicles. “We don’t have good statistics on the number of Berkeley residents, workers or shoppers using electric vehicles, but you do notice a few electric vehicles on the road, “ says City Manager James Keene. “The number of people owning these types of vehicles will definitely be going up, especially in an ecologically minded city like Berkeley. These charging stations set up the infrastructure that makes it easier for people to decide to buy an electric car.” Although the electric vehicles pay the same parking fees as all other cars, there is no charge for the electricity at this time. The City will study the energy use over the first six months of the project, and may begin charging for electricity at a later time. The City received funding to purchase and install the charging sites from the Charge! Program, administered by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the City of San Francisco, and funded by the Transportation Fund for Clean Air and the U.S. Department of Energy. Soon, the City will also be receiving two electric-powered Ford pick-up trucks that will utilize these charging sites along with the public’s vehicles. These trucks will be used by the City’s Finance Department to deliver mail and by the Parks and Waterfront Department for landscaping. The City received a grant from the Transportation Fund for Clean Air to purchase the vehicles. The Center Street Garage is located between Shattuck Avenue and Milvia Street, and can be entered from both Addison and Center Streets. The two charging sites include inductive and conductive charging facilities. The City also provides free on-street electric vehicle parking in front of the Permit Service Center, at the corner of Milvia and Center. Nearby shops, entertainment, restaurants: Downtown Berkeley. Many shops, restaurants, etc. Close to UC Berkeley Campus. The Center Street Parking Lot is located down town Berkeley at 2025 Center Street directly across from the Finance, Customer Service Center. This garage is convenient to downtown, shops, theaters and restaurants. The first hour of parking is free. In addition, merchants participating in the Downtown Berkeley Business Association provide validation for one half hour of free parking. For information on participating merchants see the marquee located in the Center Street Garage. Other comments: