State offers new local stations for car recharging
GREENSBORO — The newest contraptions in car refueling look like a cross between a short, slender gas pump and one of those compressed air machines for your tires.
The state Department of Transportation plans to unveil two this morning at rest areas on both sides of Interstate 40/85, near the Guilford-Alamance County line. But don’t stop in search of regular or high-test.
The new EV Charging Stations dispense electricity for a growing number of electric cars.
“We’re just preparing for the continued production of these kinds of vehicles,” said Julia Casadonte, spokeswoman for the state highway agency.
DOT recently received four of the machines from Praxis Technologies, a supplier with offices in Raleigh that distributed 20 machines in various public and private settings, using a $247,000 grant from the state Commerce Department, Casadonte said.
DOT estimates its four are worth about $34,000. The agency put the other two chargers at a rest area near Benson, at the junction of Interstate 40 and Interstate 95.
The number of electric vehicles is tiny now, but it is growing and likely to become a significant force in years ahead, said Jack Martin, president of the Triad Electric Vehicle Association.
The technology gained increased public awareness recently with the advent of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF, joining earlier models such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight that also rely heavily on electric motors.
“We have a lot of people passing judgment, saying these vehicles won’t work, but many have never been in an EV other than a golf cart,” Martin said, using the industry acronym for “electric vehicle.”
Martin’s club includes more than 100 members who own a variety of makes and styles of electric vehicle.
For now, DOT won’t require payment to use the new stations. State law bans the agency from taking money at rest stops for anything other than vending-machine snacks and drinks, Casadonte said.
“That’s something that may need to be examined,” she said .
It remains to be determined how heavily used the new charging stations will be, particularly at the outset.
Electric cars are used primarily for commuting because of their limited range before needing a recharge, said Anne Tazewell, N.C. Solar Center’s alternative-fuels program manager.
The technology performs well for commuting, with excellent handling and plenty of acceleration, Tazewell said.
EVs can be recharged with household electricity or at the office, but some can take eight hours to fully re-energize. DOT’s more powerful stations cut that in half, Tazewell said, and new technology could slash it to a half-hour.
But DOT engineers don’t envision people lining up first-come, first-served for a full recharge, Casadonte said: “The idea is that people would get just enough charge to go on to the next place.”
Contact Taft Wireback at 373-7100 or taft.wireback@news-record.com
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: New charging station at Interstate 40/85 rest stop at the Guilford-Alamance county line.
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