UPPER LAKE — The Tallman Hotel installed an electric car charging station in its parking lot in mid-February, taking another step in its commitment to sustainability.
“We”re a green hotel, so we thought it reasonable to put in a charging station with electric cars coming out,” Travis Lipscomb, hotel general manager, said.
The idea first developed in mid-January when hotel managers heard about a car-charging product offered by AeroVironment, Inc., according to Lipscomb. The hotel purchased a unit and it arrived Jan. 31, Lipscomb said.
A local engineer soon installed the station and it was up and running in the hotel parking lot on Feb. 10, Lipscomb said. In the two weeks since, at least three different car owners have charged their vehicles multiple times, he said.
The hotel is located on Main Street in Upper Lake, so “people can plug in, eat some food and shop downtown” while their car charges, Lipscomb said.
The Tallman Hotel has remained committed to energy efficiency since its latest owners began remodeling the downtown staple in 2003, according to its website.
“This is just yet another example of the leadership of Lynne and Bernie Butcher, the owners of the Tallman Hotel,” said District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing. “They have consistently demonstrated leadership in energy efficiency and renewables, and this is the next step for them. We”re very excited to see them do this and it”s a good example of business that is innovative and forward-thinking.”
Electric cars released in 2010 or later can plug directly into the charging station, while older cars would need to use an adapter, according to Lipscomb, and the service is free to electric car owners.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
