Shore area business leaders considering using alternative energy vehicles will get to hear the pros, the cons and its future viability during an upcoming Conference. The Monmouth Ocean Development Council (MODC) is hosting the round table discussion on Tuesday May 20th, with energy providers and a vehicle refueling representative.Listen to the entire Townsquare Tonight program of May 13

Jim Mahlmann (l), Tom Gilmour (r),
Jim Mahlmann (l), Tom Gilmour (r), (Tom Mongelli Townsquare Media NJ)
loading...

On WOBM AM's Townsquare Tonight, MODC member and moderator Jim Mahlmann, the CEO of NetCetra of Brick Township, said he believes a lack of infrastructure and gas mentality is holding back alternative fuel vehicles.

"What I mean by that is, someone with an electric car, when they realize that they can't pull up to a gas station and fill it up in five minutes or ten minutes at the most, they get ... Well, how am I supposed to fill it up [sic]?," Mahlmann said.

He said a state senator introduced a measure to install docking stations at rest areas on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway but the measure was put on hold at the behest of utility companies because the state lacks the infrastructure to even set those up, Mahlmann explained.

However, experts do see a growth in the use of alternative energy vehicles. "Well right now, the predictions are that by 2023 they're expecting around three and a half million units on the road for P.E.V's. P.E.V's are Plug In Electric Vehicles," Mahlmann said.

The conference takes place at the Ocean County Vocational Technical School in Brick Township on Tuesday May 20th from 8:30am to 10:30am. Following the panel discussion, participants will be able to see alternative fuel vehicles and a docking station up close.

"Everyone will be ushered out to the bays at Ocean County Vo-tech and there will be a Tesla there, there will be a Chevy Volt and Americharge is bringing a docking station," Mahlmann said.

Get more information and register for the conference at modc.com

More From 92.7 WOBM