The Washing State Department of Commerce and WSDOT are teaming up to implement the nation’s first “electric highway,” a basic network of public access electric vehicle (EV) recharging locations along Interstate 5. Once implemented, Washington will have the first border to border highway to offer fast charge technology, which will support mass-produced plug-in electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus, and the Chevrolet Volt.
Through the Electric Highway Project, the state will partner with private companies to install fast charging infrastructure in critical charging zones in unserved locations along major interstates. Electric vehicle charging every 40-60 miles will provide a safety net for EV drivers traveling long distances. The first charging sites will be placed along I-5 north of Everett and south of Centralia. Additional charging infrastructure will be added along I-90 reaching central Washington.
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The project supports the West Coast Green Highway, an initiative to promote the use of cleaner fuels along I-5 from British Columbia to Baja California. The State department hopes that the project will encourage more people and businesses in Washington to buy and use electric vehicles. The “electric highway” could also mean new jobs and other opportunities for Washington residents. Funding is being provided by the Department of Commerce, whose leaders hope that the Highway Project will save energy, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and provide other long-term benefits in accordance with the State Energy Program
Go to http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/partners/greenhighways/electric_highways.htm for more information. |