Salem Chosen to be Part of $230 Million National Electric Vehicle Project

Salem has been working with ECOtality, the State of Oregon, and other public and private sector partners since January 2010 to prepare for the deployment of EV charging stations

Courtesy: govconnect.alachuacounty.us

(SALEM, Ore.) - Tuesday, August 31, 2010 – Salem, Ore. – Beginning October 2010, ECOtality North America, the project manager for "The EV Project," will begin installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Salem and three other metropolitan areas in Oregon (Eugene, Portland, and Corvallis). ECOtality is overseeing a $230 million public-private initiative to deploy nearly 15,000 EV charging stations in six states and the District of Columbia. The $230 million project is funded, in part, through a grant from the Department of Energy (DOE).

In Oregon, ECOtality estimates they will install a total of approximately 2000 EV charging stations by July 2011. Beginning in 2011, and continuing through 2013, ECOtality will collect and analyze information about the electric vehicles and the charging systems nationwide to gain insights into future expansion of electric vehicles throughout the U.S.

Of the 2000 EV charging stations to be installed in Oregon, approximately 1100 will be publicly available for EV drivers. The remaining 900 chargers are for eligible Oregon residents who purchase a qualifying electric vehicle. Nissan North American and General Motors/Chevrolet are partners in The EV Project.

Purchasers of the Nissan LEAF zero-emissions electric car or the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid with extended range may qualify to participate in The EV Project.

For these drivers, a residential charger will be provided free of charge, and most, if not all of the costs of installation, will be paid for by The EV Project.

The City of Salem has been working with ECOtality, the State of Oregon, and other public and private sector partners since January 2010 to prepare for the deployment of EV charging stations, including identifying suitable public charging locations.

As Oregon's capital city, it is important that EV charging station infrastructure be available for residents, visitors, business travelers, and the commuting public. The total number of public EV charging stations to be installed in Salem will depend on a number of factors, including zoning, commuting patterns, traffic counts, and the number of preregistered purchasers of the Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt. Consumers, fleet owners/managers, businesses, and organizations interested in participating in The EV Project may obtain additional information and request a charging station at their business location through the project's website at: www.theevproject.com.

News Release from: City of Salem