9. Winter and electric
What we chose: a network designed for winter, and a steady shift to electric.
- Heated Hubs, plowed and lit stops, and professional drivers.
- Chargers at every Longevity Hub, usable by residents and visitors as well as the fleet.
- Curbside and apartment charging so renters aren't left out.
- Electric vans and car-share from the start, with buses going electric as each one is replaced.
What else we considered: waiting for the market to bring charging on its own.
Why: winter is hard on cars, with salt, potholes, icy crashes and cold starts. Letting the network carry people through the winter takes a real load off households. On charging, Sheboygan has a good start with fast chargers near I-43, but public charging is thinner here than in Madison or Green Bay. Per resident, Madison has about four times as many public stations. We see that as a chance to catch up and leap ahead, using federal and state programs built for exactly this.
Catching up, and leaping ahead.