Two additional electric vehicle charging stations are now open in Oregon's Willamette Valley along Interstate 5, extending the West Coast Electric Highway for EV owners. The new stations are located at the Pioneer Villa Truck Plaza in Halsey and at the Gateway Marketplace in Springfield.

Each charging station includes one AeroVironment "fast" charger and one level-two charger.

"We are excited to be a part of this growing movement towards electric-drive cars," says Greg Moore, owner of the Pioneer Villa Truck Plaza, located at 33180 Highway 228. "It is a welcome addition to our multi-faceted property." The Gateway Marketplace charging station is located at the Sycan Office, 840 Beltline Road in Springfield, behind the Shari's Restaurant.

In March, the Oregon DOT, AeroVironment and the Oregon Department of Energy opened the first phase of the West Coast Electric Highway with eight charging stations in Southern Oregon, enabling zero-emission travel for EV owners from the most populated parts of Oregon all the way to the California border. Once complete, the West Coast Electric Highway will allow EV drivers to travel from San Diego to Vancouver, B.C. without relying on carbon-based fuel. The "fast" charging stations, spaced at roughly 25-mile intervals along the Oregon I-5, can provide a full charge for an EV in less than 30 minutes.

The newest stations were made possible by an additional $215,000 that Oregon Department of Energy awarded Oregon Department of Transportation in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) funding through ODOE's State Energy Program, bringing the project's total to $915,000.

Electric vehicle drivers will be able to activate access to the charging stations by signing up for AeroVironment's Charging Network at evsolutions.com/avnetwork or by calling toll-free at 888-833-2148. Once enrolled, EV drivers will receive an AV Network key fob that will allow access to all AeroVironment chargers along the West Coast Electric Highway. AeroVironment is also providing free charging for a limited time.

In addition to Halsey and Springfield, stations are now located in Cottage Grove, Rice Hill, Roseburg, Canyonville, Wolf Creek, Grants Pass, Central Point, and Ashland. The time it takes to fully charge a vehicle will depend on type of EV and battery; instructions are located at each site.

For more information, go to www.oregon.gov/ODOT.