2,500 charging stations for electric vehicles to be built in Seattle

http://www.manufacturing.net/article.aspx?id=232102&wnnvz=1750,1254006

Over the next two years, 2,500 charging stations for electric vehicles will be built in the Seattle area as part of a partnership between Nissan North America and the Electric Transportation Engineering Corp., or eTec.

Representatives of eTec and Nissan were in Seattle Wednesday to show off Nissan's Leaf, a zero-emission, all-electric car that can travel up to 100 miles on one charge. Last summer, eTec received a $100 million stimulus grant through the U.S. Department of Energy for building charging stations in five areas: Tennessee, Oregon, San Diego, Seattle and Phoenix/Tucson. Project participants in each region will provide matching funds.

Mark Perry, director of product planning and advanced technology strategy at Nissan, said installation of stations in this area should begin next summer, with the first being completed by August or September. He said Nissan wants to have all the stations constructed by the fall of 2011.

Rich Feldman, eTec's Pacific Northwest regional manager for planning and business development, is overseeing the project in Washington. He said charging stations will be installed first in residential areas. Nissan Leaf buyers will receive a free 220-volt charging station for their home.

Most stations will take eight hours to fully charge a car, but 40 stations will give a substantial charge in 15 minutes. Nissan wants to have all the stations constructed by the fall of 2011.