Installing public charging stations requires rethinking the way people view parking and charging. The chargers are not meant for long-term parking, but for quick shuffling in and out. This will lead to a significant shift in people's relationship with parking. However, the negative side is that this opportunity to repurpose public space will be missed, as expensive infrastructure will continue to prioritize parking cars. The choice is to make a positive change now or repeat mistakes made over the past century.
In our quest to accommodate parked cars, we’ve paved over downtowns, polluted the planet, and made it near impossible to get anywhere without driving. Slate’s Henry Grabar explains Big Parking — and how electric cars might offer an opportunity to finally try something new.
This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Michael Raphael, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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