Electric Vehicle Charging Station Incentives Increased in Several U.S. States

During the past few years, several models of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including battery electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), have been introduced in the light-duty vehicle market.  PEVs are limited by driving range, which is related to battery capacity, and can usually travel between 60 and 200 miles before recharging.  Therefore, charging infrastructure is crucial to the success of these kinds of vehicles.  To address this issue, states have established plans to promote the development of infrastructure through financial incentives for the building of new public and private recharging facilities.

In 2008, Washington and Oregon established plans to facilitate PEV travel by installing recharging stations at convenient intervals on major travel corridors, including along Interstate 5 (I-5), the main north-south highway that runs from Canada to Mexico.  Each station contains one 480-volt direct current (DC) fast charger and one 240-volt Level 2 charger.  Fast chargers take 15 to 30 minutes to charge a vehicle's battery, while Level 2 chargers take about 4 hours.

Fast chargers are now located every 25 to 50 miles along the 585 miles of I-5 running through Washington and Oregon, as well as along other major routes in these states. Oregon also offers a tax credit for the installation of charging stations, valued at 25% of the cost for residences and 35% for businesses.

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