Getting a charge out of new station

Before long, motorists in Sisters will have the option to say "plug 'er in," instead of "fill 'er up," as the Mainline Station Chevron has installed the first electric charging station in the area.

Sisters is the first city in Central Oregon to receive an electric charging station and is an extension of the West Coast Electric Highway system, an extensive tri-state network of electric vehicle (EV) DC fast-charging stations.

A year ago, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Northwest Oregon would be receiving 20 new EV charging stations as part of a $2 million agreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

"These new electric vehicle charging stations will help us meet President Obama's goal of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels," said Secretary LaHood. "They will also help us protect Oregon's environment by reducing emissions."

The initial emphasis was installing stations along the I-5 corridor, with stations located every 25-60 miles. When complete, the Electric Highway will span the 1,300 miles from the Canadian border to the California border.

"Drivers will have the peace of mind in knowing they can recharge their cars when traveling longer distances," Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said. "Oregon will serve as a model for rest of the country in its innovative and cutting-edge approach to transportation."

Drivers with mass-produced vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf will be able to use the fast-charge technology of the charging stations to charge their vehicles to full capacity in 30 minutes or less. Each location will also include a Level 2 charging station to recharge "plug in" type vehicles such as the Ford Focus and Chevy Volt.

Although charges initially will be free, eventually drivers can look forward to being charged an "access fee" that covers the cost of electricity and provides a small profit for the equipment operator. Cost to the businesses hosting the charging stations is basically two parking spaces.

AeroVironment will design, build, install, own and operate the equipment for a minimum of three years. They will also pay for the electricity with expenses expected to be covered by the access fee. No tax dollars will pay for the electricity and the businesses hosting the chargers will not be liable for the cost of the electricity.