Charged up on electric cars

Eric Schoonveld, 42, spent about $8,500 converting his 1985 Porsche 944 to electric power, more than twice the cost of the car.

To recharge an electric vehicle, drivers simply pop open the energy-cap door, connect one end of an extension cord into the vehicle and plug the other end into a wall outlet. A full recharge takes six to eight hours.

The effort to open more charging stations with designated parking spaces where owners can plug into the facility's power for free is aimed at counteracting perhaps the biggest downside of owning an electric car: They only travel, on average, about 55 miles per charge.

There are at least six charging stations in the Chicago area. By the end of the year, the Fox Valley association hopes to have 10 more charging stations in communities where its members live.

Schoonveld would like to have more freedom to drive his electric car but said most stations are inconveniently located.

"The problem with charging stations is that they aren't in places where people need to use them," Schoonveld said. "I use O'Hare all the time, I want one there."

And despite their advantages, there's still a stigma attached to electric cars. Many people view electric as tiny and slow. At the BP station, Goetz worried that his large frame would never fit in one.

"I have no problem driving an electric car, or a car fueled on popcorn, but it's not going to be one of those small things," he said.

"I'm a big guy and won't fit in those. I'll ride a bike before I do something like that."

But these days people are converting all sorts of vehicles to run on electricity: trucks, vans and even sports cars. In his electric-powered Porsche convertible, Schoonveld, who is 6-foot-7, flies past other electric car owners who must check their egos at the door, he said.

"Everybody's passing them on the expressway and honking at them to get out of the way," Schoonveld said. "I wanted a car that I wasn't embarrassed to drive."

Rhianna Wisniewski is a freelance reporter. Gerry Smith is a Tribune reporter @ gfsmith@tribune.com.