Electric vehicle (EV) drivers can now cross the borders between the US and Canada via the West Coast Electric Highway.
With the addition of 10 more EV charging stations, drivers can now travel from Seattle to the Canadian border.
AeroVironment (Nasdaq: AVAV) is installing the charging stations, eight of which are "fast chargers," which enable a full charge in a nearly-depleted battery in less than 30 minutes.
Chargers are located near desirable shopping and entertainment venues, benefiting businesses as well as drivers.
The West Coast Electric Highway is a vision for a transportation corridor from the Canadian to Mexican borders, connecting California, Oregon and Washington along I-5 that fully supports electric vehicles. It was inaugurated in Southern Oregon in March.
The U. S. Department of Energy provided seed funding of $1.5 million through the Recovery Act to expand the West Coast Electric Highway in Washington.
EV drivers can use the charging stations by enrolling in AeroVironment’s Charging Network, after which they’ll get free access for a period of time.
AeroVironment is also building charging infrastructure in the Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth regions.
And Hawaii selected AeroVironment to deploy about 320 charging stations across the state.
Competitor ECOtality is deploying charging stations across the country with funding from the Recovery Act. Its focus is placing them in 18 cities and homes and places of business, such as Walgreens and Ikea.
On the East Coast, Massachusetts awarded funds for 100 chargers, and the Northeast Electric Vehicle network is setting up infrastructure in 11 states, planning for 200,000 EVs.
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