Florida Park Offering Innovative EV Solution for Campers

A pedestal at Torrey Trails RV & Golf Resort

Torrey Trails RV & Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Fla., has taken a unique approach when it comes to catering to electric vehicle (EV) owners, an approach the park’s developer Amir Harpaz hopes will catch on.

He has created 210 EV-ready campsites that include 50/30/20 hookups for RVs at the back of each campsite and a 50-amp pedestal to charge an EV at the front. The park currently has two phases complete and currently had 368 sites and a golf course.  Phases 3 and 4 will add an additional 361 sites giving the resort a total of 729 sites.

Harpaz noted to WOODALLSCM.com that 5-6 sites a piece are hooked up as part of an 800-meter bank.

“We figured that if we had five class A motorhomes connected at 50 amps each, with 3-4 cars charging at the same time, the bus bars will not explode and that the system will sustain it,” he explained. “There is a very slight chance of all of that happening at the same time anyways.”

Harpaz said that the park has partnered with Wild Energy, a company that specializes in electrical submetering for RV parks and campgrounds, to ensure that the park’s staff knows when the system is getting overloaded — something he doesn’t anticipate having to worry about.

“It will warn the staff when the system is at 80% capacity and then we can address the issue,” he noted.

“The problem with an EV is that it draws a constant 50 amps while it is charging,” Harpaz added. “It isn’t like an RV where the amount of amps it draws is moving up and down.”

Wild Energy also helps ensure that campers at the park pay for the electricity they use.

“The great part about working with Wild Energy is that when the camper plugs into the pedestal, the system registers it and immediately begins charging them for the electricity they use,” Harpaz explained. “We have it set up with NewBook, our reservation systems provider, so that it automatically starts the billing process and there is no human intervention required.”

Amir Harpaz

Harpaz said that he decided to go this route because he didn’t like the idea of setting up a dedicated fast charger in a separate location at the park.

“At that point, you are pretty much using up space for a gas station,” he said. “If I wanted to do that I would provide diesel because there is more demand for that. On top of that, I would have an extra asset that I need to manage. People would have to book time slots to use the charger and I would need to manage those times, manage the length-of-times people use the charger…etc. Now it is an operational expense and a headache.”

Harpaz explained that fast chargers were created for specific uses, which is why many people find them at shopping centers and other quick-stop locations.

“They expect to be able to charge in 30 minutes or so,” he noted. “At a campground, they are there for a minimum of overnight, so while they are parked at the park, why not give them a dedicated spot to charge right at their site?

“It will take five-12 hours to charge depending on how much their battery needs charged,” Harpaz added. “We are also using equipment that has been in the industry for decades and we are working with people we trust.”

Harpaz said that the park first opened the EV-ready sites on Sept. 1 and that he has had calls from park owners and other groups that want to come and take a look at the new setup.

“In our industry, you learn so much by sharing information, experiences, and knowledge. I’ve learned a lot from my industry colleagues and I’m always happy to share my experience. Any park owner, anywhere in the country that wants to see what we’ve done at Torrey Trails is welcome to come and visit,”  he noted.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/florida-park-offering-innovative-ev-solution-for-campers/