Oregon adds more quick-charge stations
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — 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.
Information from: Statesman Journal
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
What a waste of taxpayer money.  How about we wait until manufacturers build a viable electric car before we take this step?  Â
Why are our tax dollars paying for someone to charge up there electric cars? This should be private enterprise putting these in, creating non-government funded jobs and creating income without government backed funding. No wonder our country is in debt and there are no jobs. You shouldn't buy an electric car to save money and the envoirenment and expect everyones tax money to put in chargers for the few who have electric cars. If the car companies want to sell electric cars they can pay for installing charging stations and the electricity costs, not the taxpayer.
 @OregonNative We are charged for the electricity we we charge or case,  and we pay a relatively high price for a car that needs charge each 100 miles.  In exchange, we use far less power,  and we dump ZERO emissions into the air when we drive.  All around a fair deal from whihc you, the taxpayer, benefits as well.  Putting in the chargers encourages more electric vehicles,  which is very good for all.  We pay for our fuel, just as you do.
@BD @OregonNative You do NOT put zero emissions in the air , your emissions are released from the power plants that makes the electricity for youre-car. You must use quite a bit of energy if you need rccharged every 60-100 miles. How is your paying a high price for a car relevant to the amount of fuel you use? Should I feel better for paying for charging stations that I don't use because you overpaid for a car? If e-car drivers can pay that much for a car maybe the e-car drivers should pay for the charging stations. You may pay for you electricity but as it is now you pay no tax to maintain hyways which the gas/diesel drivers do. Why would I want to promote more e-cars thus lowering the amount of money to maintain, improve, and build Hiways.
 @BD  @OregonNative Well good for you. Take your smug attitude and go to the nearest mirror and pat yourself on the back. You know, it requires fossil fuels to create the electricity to power your so-called environmentally friendly car.
 @BD  @OregonNative Ok then. Whats the cost and how are these going to support themselves? What about maintenance? Electric usage DOES have cause emissions. Plenty of it. The energy used for a service truck to maintain these stations does as well.What about the tires on these cars? The interior? Are they bio degradable when they die and go to car hell? These cars take the same amount of energy to build as other non electric cars. Im not sure they are made in the US either, so they must be imported on ships? There is always another view, just have to know where to look.
 @aaronsgma  @BD  @OregonNative The Batteries alone, make it not worth it. Mined in china, shipped to Europe, back to Japan, then maybe the US, and so on .They are worse than a 30 year old car is to the environment. The Battery companies our Feds put millions into went under instantly, too.