PUBLIC DC FAST ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER NOW AVAILABLE IN DOWNTOWN BLACKSBURG
Blacksburg, VA—Oct. 13, 2015 —As part of Energy Awareness Month, the Town of Blacksburg is proud to announce the installation of the first publicly-available, DC Fast Charger south of Roanoke. This charger will enable owners of electric vehicles traveling along I-81 or Route 460 to re-charge their vehicles quickly and conveniently while visiting downtown Blacksburg. The charging station is located in the Town of Blacksburg Municipal Building Parking Lot at 300 S. Main St.
“Blacksburg is a town that is committed to a cleaner energy future. We’re so grateful to Virginia Clean Cities and their partners for helping to broker installation of this DC Fast Charger, which will enable residents and visitors alike to plug in, grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat downtown, and be on their way in about 30 minutes, with a ‘full’ electric tank,” said Carol Davis, Sustainability Manager for the Town of Blacksburg.
“Many electric vehicle drivers have already benefited from the deployment of DC Fast Chargers in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads,” said Dave Roper, a local electric vehicle driver. “This type of electric vehicle charger uses three-phase, 208 volt, 100 amp electrical current and can charge a Nissan LEAF from 0% to 80% in 30 minutes. The charging station is equipped to provide charging service to both CHAdeMO, (Japanese and Korean), and SAE-CCS Combo (USA and European) standards. Drivers traveling to Blacksburg from Roanoke and other locations will now have a safe and convenient location to stop and re-charge.”
Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam said, “We’re pleased to offer a space in the Municipal Building lot for this free, public charger and are proud that Blacksburg is joining a critical network of fast-charging infrastructure across Virginia. We know this will accelerate the adoption of vehicles that produce far less emissions than their internal combustion engine counterparts. This marks yet another big step toward enacting the Climate Action Commitment we made as a town back in 2007.”
Virginia Clean Cities, an alternative fuels and air quality non-profit, assisted with acquiring the equipment. “This is an important step for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. With 200 EV charging locations in Virginia and more than 500 public charging outlets, this Fast Charger helps round out the regional EV network and promotes cleaner air, economic vitality, and energy security,” said Alleyn Harned, Executive Director of Virginia Clean Cities.
With the exponential growth of electric vehicles in Virginia, there is a growing demand for fast and easily accessible charging infrastructure near retail and cultural destinations. This DC Fast Charger in Blacksburg addresses a critical regional transportation need by connecting downtown Blacksburg to all points north, south and east. This initiative shows Blacksburg’s commitment to the most cutting-edge vehicle technologies, cleaner air and environmental sustainability. For more information on this equipment and how you can access it, please visitwww.afdc.gov/locator/stations or www.plugshare.com.
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