Work is expected to begin in October on a two-year, $5 million project to improve electric vehicle charging on major routes in Oregon.
The project announced on Wednesday will make 44 existing “West Coast Electric Highway” charging stations — many along Interstate 5 and U.S. 101 — compatible for all EVs while expanding nearly a dozen stations and adding three new ones. Electric scooters and bikes will also be able to charge at new standard electric outlets.
EVs are a big part of Oregon’s plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but adoption has lagged behind goals. More charging availability, including stations that can service varying charging systems, is seen as a key factor in making plug-in vehicles attractive.
The Southern California company EV Charging Solutions, which acquired the West Coast Electric Highway charging stations last year from Webasto, will do the project. The Oregon Department of Transportation, using an unspecified mix of state and federal funds, is paying $4 million and the company $1 million under a cost-share agreement.
EV Charging Solutions said it will offer a monthly subscription plan that gives users unlimited charging as well as a pay-as-you-go option.
“EVCS’ collaboration with ODOT to upgrade the West Coast Electric Highway will help increase driver confidence in going electric as we seek to combat climate change through our sustainable charging stations,” Gustavo Occhiuzzo, CEO of EVCS, said in a news release.
A 2017 executive order by Gov. Kate Brown set a goal of 50,000 registered zero emissions vehicles on Oregon roads by the end of 2020, but the state fell more than 16,000 short of that mark. As of April, Oregon was at 36,608 registered electric vehicles, according to the state.
Lawmakers passed and Brown signed a new law this year that extended and boosted rebates and gave the state’s investor-owned electric utilities greater ability to do rate-based investments in EV infrastructure.
