“Transforming I-5 with cleaner
and smarter transportation"
The Oil-Free Way©
As manufacturers offer vehicles that operate on biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane, alternative fuel and electric vehicle charging stations are becoming more prevalent around the United States. The US Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center website has a comprehensive website on alternative fuel station information and locations.
Other helpful websites:
With all the buzz on electric vehicles and EV charging stations here is an overview of what people on the west coast can expect during the next couple of years:
Washington, Oregon and California were among six states selected to participate in The EV Project, a $230 million U.S. Department of Energy project to spur electric vehicle ownership and infrastructure. Nissan North American and General Motors/Chevrolet are partners in The EV Project and will launch a total of 8,300 electric vehicles to select markets. Drivers of the Nissan LEAF zero-emissions electric car and the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid with extended range, who qualify to participate in The EV Project will receive a free residential charger.
The EV Project test markets
Starting in 2010, ECOtality North America will deploy nearly 15,000 charging stations in 16 cities and the District of Columbia including homes, public spaces and commercial areas. Major population areas along the West Coast Green Highway to get the vehicles and chargers include Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, Eugene, OR, Salem, OR, Corvallis, OR ,Los Angeles, CA and San Diego, CA.
Expanding on The EV Project, Coulomb Technologies will deliver nearly free home and public EV charging stations through ChargePoint America, through a $37 million transportation electrification project through the Department of Energy. The ChargePoint America program will provide at total of 4,800 charging stations to program participants in nine regions in the United States who purchase Ford, Chevrolet and smart USA electric vehicles. West coast cities to benefit include Bellevue/Redmond, WA, San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, CA, Sacramento, CA, Los Angeles, CA
Communities, utilities, the electric vehicle (EV) industry and others are working to plan exactly where and how to begin installing public charging stations.
In the Pacific Northwest, the Washington state departments of Commerce and Transportation are connecting the EV communities by adding infrastructure in unserved areas along the I-5 corridor to give electric vehicle drivers enough fast charging sites to travel from border to border, making it the nation's first "electric" highway.
