As far as road trips go, it doesn't get much better than a trip from San Diego, California to Vancouver, Canada along the length of the Pacific Coast Highway. What if the 1,397 mile journey could be completed in an electric car?
In 2009, the state of California, Oregon, and Washington got together to create an ambitious project to transform the I-5 freeway into an alternative energy artery that would create a channel from the Mexican to Canadian border. Called the West Coast Electric Highway, CNET reported earlier in March of eight charging stations that have been installed along a 160-mile stretch on the West Coast Freeway from the northern border of California to Cottage Grove, Oregon.
Now, EVWorld has announced exciting progress as the Washington State Department of Transportation and charging station partner AeroVironment have opened ten new public charging stations from Seattle to the Canadian border. Seven of these stations are installed along Interstate 5 and another three are placed along U.S. Route 2 in northern Washington.
During an address at the opening event, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire said proudly, "Today moves us a giant step closer to the day when we can drive our electric cars from Bellingham, Washington to San Diego, California along Interstate 5, secure in the knowledge we can quickly recharge our vehicles along the way. And today is the beginning of a new era in Washington state. An era where we take a giant step toward protecting our environment from damage caused by vehicle emissions, one that will help free us from our dependence on foreign oil, and one that protects drivers from volatile gas prices."
All ten charging stations will feature AeroVironment Level 2 chargers and each will be strategically placed near popular shopping and entertainment venues, allowing drivers to maintain productivity by grabbing a bite to eat, run an errand, or spend time with a friend while the electric vehicle is plugged. Eight of the ten stations feature the latest AeroVironment "DC fast chargers," capable of providing a full charge in 30 minutes time.
Best of all, electric vehicle drivers can now charge at AeroVironment stations free of charge. Simply enroll for AeroVironment's Charging Network via evsolutions.com/avnetwork or by calling toll-free at 888-833-2148. Once registered, the EV driver will receive an AeroVironment Network key fob that provides free access to all AeroVironment chargers along the West Coast Electric Highway for a limited time. Yes, it's free!
