Electric car enthusiasts may want to look for another city if they want to plug in. The Mission Viejo City Council rejected plans to spend $120,000 on four electric vehicle charging stations, saying there was a lack of interest among residents.
In June, the council instructed staff to find out how many electric cars were registered in the city.
They learned there are 95 plug-in electric vehicles and 514 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles registered in Mission Viejo, said Paul Catsimanes, assistant to the city manager. Another 2,200 plug-in vehicles can be found throughout Orange County, he said.
The city's two Walgreens each have two charging stations, and another station can be found at Mission Hospital, Catsimanes said. But city staffers were unable to discover how much those stations are being used, he said.
Resident Bob Rattan encouraged the city council to pass the proposal, which would have the city match a $60,000 grant with another $60,000.
"We have always been aggressive and far-sighted in seeking green alternatives," he said. "This is sort of a chicken-and-the-egg problem. People will not buy electric vehicles unless they know they can recharge them.
The council voted 3-2 against the proposal, with Councilman Dave Leckness and Councilwoman Trish Kelley voting for it.
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