Abuse of EV spaces rampant in new Bethesda garage (Photos)

Special Investigative Report

Bethesda is known as a progressive, enlightened and environmentally-conscious town. But that isn't on display beneath its urban streets. Drivers of gasoline vehicles are regularly hogging spaces reserved for electric vehicles (EVs) in the new Capital Crescent Garage at Bethesda and Woodmont Avenues, and enforcement appears lax.

Whoops, Hyundai doesn't
make an EV Tiburon 

BMW and
Honda Accord in
EV spaces Friday
evening

Honda makes EVs, but
this ain't one of them

On Friday evening during the busiest dinner hour, several EV charging spaces were taken up by gas vehicles, ranging from Hyundais to expensive BMWs. Subsequent spot checks turned up the same abuse, including on Monday night, again during the 6:00 PM hour.

Volvo on Monday evening
during dinner hour

Nope, these aren't
EVs 

Neither is this

Nor this

Space after space was available
on lower levels of the 900+ space
garage - over 600, to be exact -
for gasoline-powered vehicles

With over 600 parking spaces available, non-EV drivers were still parking in the limited-but-convenient EV spaces - including a Porsche. The EV spaces were conveniently located as another incentive for choosing alternative fuel vehicles, much like the HOV access EV drivers often enjoy.

Only one offending driver
had been ticketed

Only one vehicle had been ticketed by parking enforcement during the times shown here. With Bethesda having one of the largest percentages of EVs in America, the rampant abuse could mean EV drivers planning to park and charge their vehicle would be blocked out by an ineligible driver.

The Capital Crescent Garage is also known as Public Parking Garage 31, and is operated by Montgomery County Government.

OURISMAN HONDA EXHORTS BETHESDA TO "FREE YOURSELF FROM FOREIGN OIL!"

I was walking down Bethesda Avenue the other night, and saw a silver car that appeared to be making a call on a landline payphone.  And a Bethesda-friendly sign message, exhorting passersby to "Free Yourself from Foreign Oil!"

"I'd like to make a collect call.
My name is Honda Civic."

 So I had to stop and find out what was going on!

Turns out, Ourisman Honda is offering a natural gas-powered Honda Civic - and, an at-home natural gas "gas station," which can be installed outside, or even inside your garage.

You can set up this same natural "gas station" in your driveway or garage

The at-home system, called Phill, is similar in concept to whole-house, natural gas generators now popular in the area.  However, it is about the size of your electric switchbox, uses the electricity equivalent to a small appliance, and has a noise level equal to an air conditioner.

This is an alternative to an electric car you would plug in at home.  And, of course, it means you can fill up your car's tank while you're asleep, when it's raining, or when snow and ice make it difficult to reach the gas station.

You can stop by Ourisman Honda and check out the display yourself, the next time you're at Bethesda Row.

Green machines at Bethesda Row:
Honda CR-Z Hybrid [left], natural gas Honda Civic

Have you made the switch to an alternative fuel vehicle (Prius, Leaf, Volt, Civic, etc,)?  Has it saved you money on gas, or did the high price make it no cheaper than a gasoline engine vehicle over time?