New Orleans: Big Easy to make life easier for electric car owners?

New Orleans has a hot-and-cold relationship with environmentally friendly technology.

Last week, however, the two were definitely on good terms as the city council voted unanimously to make life easier for current and future electric car owners. . . .

. . . There are precious few charging stations to be found in New Orleans, and owners have been prevented from installing them on sidewalks.

That's been a major setback for would-be buyers, because most homes in the city's historic neighborhoods lack driveways, much less garages.

As a result, people have to park their vehicles on the street. That's made us great parallel parkers, but offered little inducement to purchase a Tesla Model S or Nissan Leaf, since there's no convenient way to charge them. . . .

Late last week, the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance and a resolution that could make the city a little more friendly to electric cars.

The ordinance contained two provisions, which direct the City Planning Commission to consider the following:

1. Counting electric car charging spaces in total parking lot counts: Currently, real estate developers aren't able to count electric car charging spaces as parking spaces. As a result, they're essentially penalized for including charging spots. The ordinance suggests not only lifting that penalty, but also offering incentives to developers who include charging spaces in their construction plans.

2. Allowing electric car owners to apply for permits to install curbside charging stations for electric vehicles: This is, of course, a complicated issue. How will owners ensure that they have the ability to park near their own charger? What happens when owners move? The solution is likely to be complicated and months, if not years away, but it's a step in the right direction. . . .

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