Electric vehicles make almost no sound and many run on 100% electricity. Washington State wants 50,000 of them on the road by 2020. With plug-in vehicle, or PEV, sales growing in the United States, it’s a goal that’s likely to be met. The early acceptance of hybrid vehicles in the Pacific Northwest, combined with our low carbon electricity, seems to make us a sweet spot for electric-powered cars. Additionally, our low utility rates make electric vehicles cheap to operate and mild temperatures make it easier on your pocket book and batteries.

Consumers find several pluses to electric vehicles. They emit no toxic gases, have little green house effect, don’t create smoggy conditions and are noise free. Sales and models available have grown steadily over the past years. Now just about every auto manufacturer from Chevrolet to Mercedes is producing one or more models. They run the gamut from the thrifty Nissan Leaf to the luxury Tesla.

Calculate potential savings using our online calculator.

The CO2 emission rate is much lower for Electric Vehicles. See the table below for a comparison:

Charger Information

Because of near constant use of the chargers at Clark Public Utilities’ Mill Plain and Padden Parkway locations, we’ve expanded the number of chargers.

For commuters traveling 50 to 60 miles a round trip, electric cars make sense, especially as a second car, or the one you buzz around in running errands. Locally you will find familiar places like U-Haul, Fred Meyer, Chuck’s Produce, Walgreens, Kohl’s and car dealerships outfitted with charging stations.

When planning long distance drives, map out your route so you don’t exceed your e-car’s range between charges. Traveling up the I-5 corridor, you’ll find plenty of charging stations. To help plan a long trip or to find stations, visit the US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Chargers have three levels. The commercial station, often referred to as a Fast Charger, loads a battery to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. A Level 1 uses 120-volts alternating current taking up to 11 hours to recharge a dead battery. At 240-volts AC, a Level 2 charges one in four to seven hours. Both Level 1 and 2 fit residential use.

The utility must plan electric usage into the future, so it’s a good idea to alert them before installing a charger in your home.

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of electric vehicles, the following websites are a good place to start:

Go Forth

DOE

Consumer Reports

Additional EV Information

For any additional questions, contact our Energy Services Project Manager, Matt, at 360-992-3000.