June 10, 2024

Today’s Forecast

Bring the charger home

aerial view of Loop 1604 and I-10. | Photo via @skylinedronetx

Fun fact: In 2022 there were 149,000 registered electric vehicles in the state of Texas. | Photo by @skylinedronetx

It’s no secret that electric vehicles (EV) are on the rise — a record 1.2 million electric vehicles were sold in the US in 2023. If you’re thinking about getting around gas prices with a new EV but don’t know where to start, plug into your research with this quick explainer on electric vehicle charging.

🚗 Why might I want an electric vehicle?

In addition to the climate impact, electric vehicle drivers save an average of $500-$1,500 per year in refueling costs, in addition to a ~40% reduction in maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle.

While the Texas EV Rebate Program ended in January 2023, drivers can access tax incentives for buying electric vehicles or hybrids from the US Department of Energy.

🏠 Charging at home

Level 1 chargers plug into a standard 120-volt (NEMA 5-15) electrical outlet using the cord that comes with the vehicle. While it doesn’t require extra equipment for your home, this method can take up to several days to fully charge the car.

Red and white standing car chargers in a parking lot. — You can find superchargers at the recently-opened Tesla charging stations located in The Rim Shopping Center near Nordstrom Rack and Lowe’s.
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Photo by SATXtoday team

Level 2 chargers plug into a 240-volt (NEMA 14-50) receptacle — like the one used for home appliances — and can charge the car in about seven hours.

Pro tip: Adding or changing the electrical options in your home falls under the City of San Antonio’s residential electric code (found on page 8).

Look for electricians who are both registered + licensed and use the city’s portal to apply for the appropriate permits for your project.

🔋 Charging on the go

Direct Current Fast Chargers are typically high-voltage, public charging stations — rather than private residential locations. The super chargers can reduce charging times anywhere from 20 to 75 minutes. If you’re out and about, check out Plugshare to locate a supercharger or Level 2 charger near you.

Asked

What would be your top priority when purchasing an electric car?

A. Range
B. Charge port
C. Reliability
D. Comfort

Plug in your answer

Events

Monday, June 10

Bowl + Bite | Monday, June 10 | 4-11 p.m. | PINSTACK, 742 NW Loop 410 Ste. 201, San Antonio | Cost of purchase | Leave the Monday blues at the door and enjoy bowling, $3 draft beer, and half-price appetizers.
A Night of Soul | Monday, June 10 | 6-9 p.m. | SAAACAM, 418 Villita St., San Antonio | Free | Celebrate this museum’s newest exhibit “The Soul of San Antonio” with live music, a drum circle, games, and food.

Tuesday, June 11

Bird Hike with Tiffany Kersten | Tuesday, June 11 | 7:30-10 a.m. | Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, 10750 Pleasanton Rd., San Antonio | $15-$20 | Learn about personal safety and do some bird watching with the founder of Nature Ninja Birding Tours.
The Music of Walt Disney | Tuesday, June 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Jazz, TX, 312 Pearl Pkwy. Bldg. 6, Ste. 6001, San Antonio | $25+ | Listen to jazz renditions of Disney classics like “Be Our Guest,” “Colors of the Wind,” “Feed the Birds,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Community

Renovations to the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex are now complete. Updates include a new 5,140-sqft special event hall, a fieldhouse locker room, bathrooms, and a new turf football field and track. The $4.4 million eastside investment is from voter-approved bond programs in 2017 + 2022.

San Antonian

“The Kelly Clarkson Show” is featuring the founder of Morgan’s Wonderland, Gordon Hartman, on air today. Tune in to NBC at 2 p.m. to see the “Rad Dad” segment in honor of Father’s Day. Need some gifting ideas? Check out our guide.

Plan Ahead

The World Heritage Office announced dates for its upcoming World Heritage Festival. Mark your calendars from Sept. 4-8 to celebrate the San Antonio Missions. Events currently scheduled include an outdoor movie night, bike ride, and a mariachi mass. Looking to get involved? Become a volunteer.

Real Estate

A $720,000 mid-century modern house recently hit the market in the North Central neighborhood of San Antonio. 202 Lochaven Ln. is a 3,121-sqft, four-bed, four-bath residence. It also features updated appliances, a modern kitchen, and a separate mother-in-law suite.

Environment

The San Antonio River Authority gave a behind the scenes look of how they analyze San Antonio river samples on Instagram. Using a UV lamp and a plasma torch, SARA says the river is healthy + poses little to no threat to human health if you accidentally fall in.

Sports

Buy or sell: Spurs reportedly exploring a move trade for the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Finance

Whatever your financial goals are this year, unlimited cash back just makes cents. Learn how to make your money work for you with an Ultimate Checking account from United Texas Credit Union.*

Shop

Woman-owned business Royal Highnies uses airy, 400-thread count Pima cotton to create luxury loungewear for the whole family. It all began with boxer shorts, and now, trademarked Highnies are sold in over 500 retailers — but you can snag free hats for Father’s Day exclusively online with code ROYALDADDY24.*

Health

What happens when you combine German engineering with the world’s most trusted name in hearing care? The biggest breakthrough in hearing technology in more than a decade: the Horizon hearing aid. (This is not your grandpa’s hearing device.) See if you qualify for a free trial.*

Shop

Candy, books, and Tesla coils

Curiosity Corner (2202 Broadway Bldg. 9) is the brainchild of owners Justin Pollock and Megan Begley. | Photo by SATXtoday

Skip the gas station snacks and grab something a little more peculiar. Nestled in a small structure in the Broadway News Park lies the Curiosity Corner. Opened in March, the store offers a wide variety of items for sale — from imported Kit Kats and the original formula for Red Bull (Krating Daeng) to books and Tesla coils.

Tantalizing items

Founded by Justin Pollock and Megan Bagley, the store aims to inspire visitors to get curious about their surroundings. Through a wide selection of carefully curated items, there’s something for everyone at this corner store.

Try this: Test your tastebuds by grabbing a bag of Sabritas Habanero chips from Mexico. City Editor Nicholas picked up a unique copy of the classic novel “Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka.

The details

Here’s where you can find it:

2202 Broadway Bldg. 9
Hours are Thursday-Sunday, 11:11 a.m. to 2:22 p.m. (yes, you read that correctly)

The Buy

Cool off on National Iced Tea Day with refreshing peach iced tea from Oliver Pluff & Co. Plus, you can purchase by the pound.

Answered

What century was the Espada Aqueduct constructed?

The Espada Aqueduct is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, National Park, and National Historic Landmark.
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Photo by the National Park Service

The majority of quiz-takers (60%) got this question right: The Espada Aqueduct and Dam was built in the 18th century.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Nicholas

From the editor

Did y’all find any fungi-inspired items during the Game of Shrooms over the weekend? There were bookmarks, sculptures, and little trinkets that were spread across the city in hopes that someone would take them home.

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