Verdanza becomes 1st island hotel to install ‘EV’ charging station
Verdanza Hotel President Rick Newman demonstrates how the EV station works.
The Verdanza Hotel in Isla Verde is pitching in with the environment by becoming the first hotel on the island to install an electronic vehicle charging station.
The charge station at Verdanza Hotel, also the first station in the Municipality of Carolina, is located in the parking area of the property and uses an industry-standard connector, which can be used to charge any electric vehicle currently on the market, as well as next generation models in production, said Rick Newman, president of Verdanza Hotel
“At Verdanza we are proud of our efforts to ensure that the daily operation of the hotel is friendly to the environment. The decision to install a charge station was a natural next step in our commitment to contribute to a healthier environment,” said Newman, adding that although Puerto Rico has not yet reached a critical mass in the use of EV’s, it is fertile ground for this type of innovation.
“The use of electric vehicles is on the path to become gradually more generalized, locally and internationally. The reduction of toxic emissions and, in purely economic terms, the reduction of the costs related to oil products, make electric cars an increasingly attractive option,” Newman said. “Car makers such as Ford have recognized this is an unstoppable trend and they have responded accordingly, developing EV’s as a genuinely viable product.”
While local demand has been slowly growing for EV’s, their use is not widespread for several reasons, including the fact that there are few charging stations available that allow the consumer to travel with peace of mind. That panorama is contrary to the U.S. mainland, where there are thousands of charge stations available in public sites, shopping centers and even large commercial chains such as Macy’s, Walgreens and McDonald’s.
During the unveiling of the charging station, hotel officials spoke about how to date 17 U.S. jurisdictions, including Hawaii, California, New Jersey, and Florida, have passed legislation that stimulates the purchase of electric vehicles. Likewise, Canada, China, Japan and 15 countries of the European Union offer diverse fiscal incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles.
“This type of legislation in Puerto Rico would make electric vehicles more accessible to the consumer, while at the same time being a concrete action to reduce environmental pollution on the island,” Newman said. “We urge others to follow our example to begin a proliferation of charge stations that will stimulate the legislators to consider incentives, and potential buyers to be stimulated by knowing there will be locations to charge their vehicles.”
Verdanza’s initiative is in line with its commitment to environmentally friendly practices. Other efforts include an extensive recycling program, organic guestroom amenities, the installation of devices that reduce the consumption of water and electricity, the replacement of traditional plastic ware with versions that are 100 percent biodegradable, and the collection, treatment and repurposing of rainwater as well as used oils, among others.
Verdanza’s commitment earned the property the “Pineapple Leader Award” in March by the Preferred Hotel Group, the international hotel group of which Verdanza Hotel is a member under the Summit Hotels & Resorts collection.
