Baltimore Installs Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In 9 Garages
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- During Energy Awareness Month in Baltimore, the city is trying to make it easier to go green.
Andrea Fujii explains how several electric vehicle charging stations are just the beginning.
As the mayor pulls up in an electric car, she now has a way to charge it for free.
With a $134,000 Maryland Energy Administration grant, the city has installed one charger in nine different city-owned parking garages.
"Electric vehicle charging stations make Baltimore ready to support the growing electric vehicle industry and offer the potential to displace gasoline usage," Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.
As technology advances, more electric cars are being introduced, and the demand for the zero-emission non-gas guzzlers are rising.
So city leaders say chargers are necessary.
"Now residents, business owners and people who come to the city who own electric vehicles can park in a city garage and while they're parked here, recharge their electric vehicle," Peter Little, a Baltimore City Parking Authority official, said.
Each charger can charge up to two cars at once and though the use of it is free, parking is not. And for some electric cars it takes up to 10 hours to charge.
With a city goal of reducing greenhouse gas pollution by 20 percent by 2015, city leaders say these are just a start.
"It's going to be easier and easier for electric vehicle owners to recharge their vehicles," Little said.
Within the next year they plan to add 50 more free charging stations.
To find a list of the parking garages with those new chargers, click here.
