Here is a recent blog post about the new structure at Karl Chevrolet.  Karl Chevrolet is always looking for new ways to be on the leading edge of innovation.  The addition of the Solar Charging Station is very interesting.  Usually, Karl Chevrolet investments center around two things, customer service and return on investment.  This one won't benefit the majority of their customers for years to come, but there is a chance that it might offer a return on investment.  To see how read my blog below.

Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny Iowa has sprouted another structure recently (view image at the bottom of this blog). The shell of a unique solar-charging station for electric vehicles is standing in the upper west lot across from the recently expanded quick lube. Soon we will be able to tell how many vehicles are able to charge at one time. From the picture, it appears the capacity could be 8, 10 or 20 vehicles at the same time. Either way, I believe Karl Chevrolet will benefit from this structure even if a customer never drives to Karl Chevrolet to charge their Volt.

Some of you might be wondering if anyone will utilize this new service. Perhaps the charging service might be a bigger hit at a mall or the golf course. Why didn’t Karl Chevrolet build the Karl Kharger at some other unrelated location offering an activity to do while your vehicle charges?

Fortunately, Karl Chevrolet’s charging structure is probably built for multiple reasons, but I am not giving a lot of weight to the idea that customers will visit Karl Chevrolet and wait FOUR HOURS while their Volt reaches its optimum battery level. Here are a few other ideas I have regarding why Karl Chevrolet will benefit from this huge expenditure even if no one ever uses it.

1. Media Hoopla – If done properly, before, during and following the completion of Karl Chevrolet’s Solar Charging Station, media outlets everywhere will love reporting on this new innovation related to the automotive industry. Yes, the structure will cost a large amount of money, but the free press will be priceless for Karl Chevrolet. Imagine, the print, online and television frenzy that will cover this new facility.

2. Reason to Buy – One thing Karl Chevrolet does very well is create separation between themselves and their competition. This is done through educating salesmen on what makes Karl Chevrolet special. If you try to buy a car at Karl Chevrolet, expect them to educate you on why your purchase would be a good decision even more than why the car will help your life to improve.

3. Service Benefit – I am guessing that customers who service their Volt at Karl Chevrolet will always benefit by having their Volt fully charged when they pick it up after receiving service. Service might utilize this new facility more than the sales team or previous customers.

4. Electricity Supplement - There is a less obvious reason, which is the added benefit of harnessing clean solar energy for the dealership. At times when the system isn’t charging vehicles (which I believe will be most of the time), excess energy will be funneled into the power system to reduce demands from outside energy sources.

5. Unknowns – There may have been additional incentives for building this structure and starting a trend. GM may have helped with funding for the project or lending money for its construction. Who knows, maybe there are other tax advantages as well.

If I know Carl, this structure was easy to authorize despite what many outsiders might say.  Now, what will the name be? Karl Quick Charge? SUPER SOLAR STATION? Karl Kharger? Karl Solar Volt?

Karl Chevrolet constructs Solar Charging Station for Electric Vehicles. Here is an image as of July 5th, 2012.

{This post is written by Jason Mickelson, President of Auto iLead.  A photo of this charging station as of July 6th, 2012 is posted to our Auto iLead facebook fan page.}