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.
Meanwhile the legislators are also trying to figure out how to recoup road maintenance costs because electric cars don't pay the gas tax and Japan has given up on battery electric car designs:http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/4/goodbye-prius-japan-carmakers-drop-electric-car-de/
Just don't go the two spots at Wal-Mart on 82nd in Happy Valley. They're always taken by non-electric vehicles who like the close-in parking spot.
 @Playanekes @jpk True. I guess I should've thought that through better. Of course, I wouldn't recommend going to that Wal-Mart, period. Stopped in there this weekend, and got a slimy substance on my hands when touching the handle of the first cart I tried to use. Immediately went to the restroom, going "EWWW!". Don't even want to know what was on that.
That's not only true for out there. It's true of every Wal-Mart! The signs are in English only!
Exactly, how can we expect people in the United States of America to speak english...
 @OSUx2 The problem is expecting Wal-Mart shoppers to be able to read the sign in the first place.
NO NO NO NO NO!  What nonsense that there is a power plant somewhere causing pollution for these electric vehicles. Don't you all know that they are powered by magical Portland fairy farts? Hmmmmm...smugness.
Just saying...
 @Mr. Carbon Footprint You're aware of the hydroelectric dams all over western Oregon, and the wind turbines all over Oregon?
 @Playanekes  @Mr. Carbon Footprint I think that when I said "magical Portland fairy farts" I didn't need to say anything more. (Not so deep sarcasm).
Stay smug my friend. (More not so deep sarcasm).
Wind turbines? Are you referring to all the politicians again?
For electric vehicles -- charge = fuel. WHERE IS MY FREE FUEL.
 @You're Kidding...Right GIMME GIMME GIMME.  Like the government's going to give power away for free.
Like any drug pusher, the first few hits are free!
It was meant to be facetious ... as I hope your's is. And they are giving power away for free. I have never seen any coin slot or credit card slot or any other way to pay at those stations; judy plug your vehicle in and get a free charge. And my point is -- the state shouldn't be providing free fuel to anyone, --- electric, gasoline, diesel, hydrogen, solar, wind, or any other fuel, unless all citizens can get free fuel.Â
In the Pacific Northwest, most electricity comes from hydroelectric power, a non polluting form of energy. Therefore, in the Northwest at least, electric cars do make sense environmentally.
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At first the electric power stations will not be used very much. Â There aren't yet very many electric cars and plug in hybrids. Â But the electric power stations will help enable electric vehicles to become more practical and will accordingly encourage their sales. Â As the battery technology improves and electricity becomes increasingly cheaper than gasoline -- and charging stations become increasingly numerous and available -- electric cars will become more and more practical and common.
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So this is a great expenditure for the medium and long term.
 @Mark 55% of Oregon's electricity comes from coal+natural gas + nuclear power. About 37% comes from hydroelectric. Washington does much better - about 70% from hydro.
California's is overwhelmingly generated via natural gas, coal, and nuclear.
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So except for Washington, the generation of this electricity is not "clean".
As this technology spreads, this will be more and more of a problem, because nationwide, hydro is a small contributor.
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But I really appreciate your post, because I would never have realized how much Washington uses hydroelectric for their power generation. That's great.
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 @YahooIsTOO INVASIVE  @Mark Nuclear? From Hanford, I guess?
Just what a state with a budget shortfall  should be spending money on...... NOT.Â
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But hey, when you're spending other peoples money, who cares if its cost efficient..... its not my money....
Has anyone ever figured out where all this "free" electrical energy is coming from? Surely, it is being generated somewhere using some form of fossil fuel. Is this just a feel-good trade off for not depending on gasoline or diesel? And where will road use fuel taxes come from. Doesn't sound like a good idea, except for those wanting to get further than by pedalling their bicycles. The West Coast Electric Highway could be replaced by a train!
 @jpk Ever been to any of they hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River? Remember when energy rates were jacked up because we had to export power to California, only to discover that Enron was manipulating PGE and the taxpayers and the whole thing?Did the prices ever come down? We tearing -down- hydroelectric dams and the wind farmers are hollering that they're not getting paid for generating energy. Why are we talking about fossil fuels?
Fossils like me like to talk about fossils and fossil fuel.
I can't imagine sitting at a charging station for that long. Â Its doomed before they ever started the first station. Â And there is no way this will remain "free". Â The government will tax it to the point where it costs more than gas. Â Guaranteed.
Naysayers should remember that when gasoline powered cars first made their appearance in the U.S., there was no convenient network of gasoline stations or service stations. You had to carry extra gas or buy it off a farmer, blacksmith, hardware or drug store that happened to have some if you were lucky enough to find them when your tank was low.  The stations will spread, and the charging times will come down.  And remember, your car battery is dirtier and more toxic to dispose of or recycle than the batteries used in these cars.
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Having said that... beware the myth that this is "emission free", and "free" to use.  First, generating the electricity to charge those cars isn't "emission free". Somewhere, a plant is probably burning coal or natural gas, or using nuclear fuel to generate that electricity.Â
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As for "free", ha ha ha. That will not, and cannot, last.  The Federal and state governments are not going to keep building charging stations and giving away electricity for free. And the utility companies won't either.  It's only a matter of time before you pay just as much for these recharges as you do for gas. Energy companies aren't just "big bad oil" companies. They are *profit* makers first and foremost. They don't care whether they sell you gasoline or electric charges. They just want the money.Â
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All in all, I'm encouraged by this. It will end up costing us all the same to run our cars in the long run. The energy companies will make sure of that. But it is a much cleaner way to get around.
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 @YahooIsTOO INVASIVE Free? They will just rename charging stations to "bike paths". What's more smug? Bike riders, Max riders, Prius drivers or EV owners?
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How much does each charge cost the car owner?
@wondering Free
There is NO such thing as free as long as the government is involved. Look for the hidden lining.
Tax breaks for buying any economy car built in the USA would quickly do more good than any inconsequential pet project feeding some politicians' resumes.
@Soylent Green There are tax breaks on eco cars.
There are "breaks" alright, but not necessarily involving tax.
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 @Dr. Rawdog That's why I tend to avoid businesses that take advantage of such things. Just like with businesses who use the term "eco or green" in their name. The religion of green has nothing to do with the environment. Green marketing is a sham at any level of participation.
I would rather they lower gas prices.
 @Pointblank Take that one up with Big Oil and their near half billion dollar profit levels.
 @Pointblank Sorry, half trillion dollar.
@Pointblank How is that working for you??
What else can we waste money on?
@Beergod Um oil companies making $8 billion in three months??
Oh Wait they call them subsidies....
 @uknow2  @Beergod We have a lot bigger problems we need to fix before we start pissing away money on charging stations that are rarely used. My company installed four of these things in a feel good gesture, and in two years they have never been used. Not even once. So tax dollars shouldn't be spent on these, especially when there are relatively few cars on the road that will use them.
Natural Gas. Clean Energy systems is building fueliing stations with investor money coast to coast.
Affordable and low emissions.
@Rob C 503 As compared to free and No emissions??
@uknow2 ......Free ??? I think you need to take an economics class..
@uknow2 Depends on where the electricity comes from, and before you say "Wind" or "Solar", those don't provide enough juice to sustain anything. Plus, where did the electricity come from to build the turbines and PV cells? Same goes for hydroelectric. It takes a lot of diesel to pump concrete to make the dams.
What is the cost to taxpayers for each of these stations?
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But hey, atleast the half-dozen or so people that drive these electric cars will have not have to worry where they are going to be able to wait 20-30 minutes to recharge their car.
 @LakeOSteve Yes but now these charging stations will have to employ round the clock attendants because we are all too stupid to fill our own tanks or batteries. Kumbaya. I'm sure that the "big" plan to fix Oregon's economy revolves around these part time jobs.
Kumbaya Oregon.
 @Mr. Carbon Footprint  @LakeOSteve Best comment yet.I want to start a petition on April 1 that requires that either all men's rooms in Oregon have an attendant, or men will have to sit down to pee. Because if a guy can't pump gas without getting it all over himself... you know what I'm saying?
 @LakeOSteve I assume the power company costs to produce and deliver are included in the monthly bills we all pay for our homes and businesses.
@LakeOSteve You can look at it that way, or you can look at it as the first step to a better transport system. If the first step isn't taken, then nothing would ever get accomplished.
 @Oregon7812  @LakeOSteve Yep.Fortunately, Orville, Wilber and Rosie the Riveter weren't at all discouraged by a bunch of nincompoops standing around blathering about what couldn't be done.
Fortunately, Orville, Wilber and Rosie were paying their own way.
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@LakeOSteve Now picture everyone doing it and stop whinning