After years of pushing for it, Plug-In North Central Washington is thrilled to announce the grand opening of the world’s first dedicated electric vehicle tourism corridor between Seattle and Wenatchee, Washington. The three DC Fast Charging stations and accompanying Level 2 stations will allow drivers of appropriately equipped electric vehicles (e.g. Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs with fast charging capability) to make the trip between the two regions and become EV tourists.
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When it comes to making charging infrastructure for electric vehicles easy to install, Douglas County is way ahead of the curve. While much of the nation struggles with how to change and update existing land use, zoning, permitting and other codes for the easy installation of the charging stations these next generation vehicles need, Douglas County has taken a different approach and found a much simpler way to do it—in a fashion that fits in well with Eastern Washington’s cultural landscape.
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As the initial piece of the puzzle in what will eventually be the nation’s first ‘EV-friendly’ scenic tourism corridor along U.S. Route 2 from Seattle to Wenatchee, Wash., the two electric car charging stations opened at Stevens Pass ski resort on June 2, 2011, are not only the first modern universal electric car charging stations over any mountain pass in the U.S., they represent a gigantic milestone in the quest to make all of North Central Washington a place where electric vehicles can flourish.
Read MoreWhen Pauline and John Sweeney initially heard about the all-electric Nissan LEAF just before Christmas last year, it immediately dawned on them how beautifully the vehicle could fit into their North Central Washington lifestyle—saving them money and reducing their environmental impact at the same time.
Read MoreThe nation’s first electric car-friendly scenic tourism route is moving right along. As previously announced, the Washington Department of Commerce—in collaboration with several partners, including the Plugin Center—will install two or three electric car fast charging stations using federal funds at yet-to-be-chosen locations along Highway 2 over Stevens Pass by the end of 2011.
Read MoreLeave it to Washington: After gaining recognition for the U.S.’s first EV-friendly highway initiative in 2010, the state has decided to ring in the New Year by announcing the nation’s first EV-friendly scenic byway and tourism route.
Read MoreIn the December 2010 issue of Good Fruit Grower, the Pacific Northwest’s preeminent orchard and vineyard magazine, North Central Washington is singled out as “a pioneer for the adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles because of its cheap hydropower”—something which many of this area’s inhabitants might be surprised to learn. After reviewing some of the history of the Advanced Vehicle Innovations (AVI) consortium and the PluginCenter, Good Fruit Grower points out that agriculture in our region is primed to reap the benefits of vehicle and equipment electrification.
Read MoreOne of our key goals at the Plugin Center is to help local fleets, businesses and governments explore the benefits of integrating all-electric vehicles and associated charging equipment into their operations. To this end, on October 14, 2010, the Plugin Center invited Cascadia International of Tacoma, WA, to bring the all-electric Navistar eStar medium-duty commercial truck to Wenatchee for a day of demonstrations and driving experience for potential fleet owners. The event was well-attended and included participation by Link Transit, Chelan PUD, the City of Wenatchee, and Stemilt Growers. In addition to the demonstration event, the eStar was also featured as a guest of honor the next day at the annual Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Odyssey day held at Wenatchee Valley College.
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