Oregon adds more quick-charge stations

Feb 4, 2013

SALEM — With more quick-charge stations installed for electric vehicles, Oregon has completed its portion of the West Coast Electric Highway.

When completed, the electric highway will be equipped with quick-charge stations every 25 to 60 miles, according to The Salem Statesman Journal. The highway is a tri-state effort of Washington, Oregon and California, and extends from British Columbia to Baja California.

The quick-charge stations can typically charge a car battery in 20 to 30 minutes. Depending on battery-charge levels, it can take between four to eight hours at a non-quick charge station.

Portland General Electric joined with ECOtality, the company that manufactures the stations, through the Electric Vehicle Project to install the stations that completed the northern portion of the state's corridor.

Oregon's recently added stations to complete its portion, including a quick-charge one at the Shari's Cafe and Pie restaurant in Keizer. The other locations for PGE's part of the project include a southeast Portland Burgerville, Woodburn's Elmer's restaurant, the Clackamas Town Center and Wilsonville Town Center.

The Oregon Department of Transportation completed the southern stretch of the state freeway with 10 quick-charge stations along I-5 last March.

Art James, senior project executive for ODOT's office of innovative partnerships, said American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Oregon Department of Energy enabled the state to install the AeroVironment fast-chargers.

Together with the ECOtality stations, the state's corridor is complete.

“By having a network of easy-to-use chargers people can get around the state and charge up when they need to,” James said.

The state is working to install 33 more AeroVironment fast-charge stations through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER project. Upon completion, there will be fast-chargers along the Gorge, at the Coast, in Central Oregon and in the Willamette Valley.

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Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com