Rhode Island To Get Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Rhode Island plans to install at least 30 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in 2013.

The state Office of Energy Resources (OER) is directing the project to expand EV use across the state. Building EV charging stations, the OER says, will create jobs, reduce pollution, and "accelerate Rhode Island’s transition to electrified transportation." The charging stations are also part of a larger push to reduce petroleum consumption.

Currently, Rhode Island has six charging stations. Eighty percent of the planned charging stations are required to be in public locations. At least three must be on state property.

The notice of public bidding for the project was announced soon after the state added EVs to its list of vehicles that can be bought by state agencies and municipalities.

Contractors have until January 15 to submit proposals. The new stations must be built by August 15. Funding from the federal American Resources and Recovery Act will pay for charging station equipment, wiring, and construction costs. Charging equipment alone typically costs about $6,500.

The 240-volt Level II charging stations are the standard most commonly used across the country. Between four and seven hours are required to fully charge an EV, depending on battery capacity and the existing charge. Planners of the project expect vehicles to be partially charged, thus requiring one to three hours of plug-in time at the new stations. The charging stations work for both fully electric vehicles and plug-in gas-electric vehicles.

The effort to build EV infrastructure has been a priority of a collaboration between Project Get Ready, Ocean State Clean Cities, National Grid, the state Division of Planning, and OER. Through its "Top 50" initiative, the group advocates that new charging stations be built outside restaurants, shopping malls, parking garages, gyms, beaches, and other locations where vehicles are often parked for several hours.

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