Where to Find Free Electric Car Charging Stations in Portland Area

With the introduction of electric cars, and anticipated demand for the efficient vehicles in the environmentally-conscious Pacific Northwest, more and more drivers in the Portland, Oregon area will need to know where to find free electric car charging stations for their efficient new cars.

Electric cars are suddenly a hot topic nationwide, and the Portland area has embraced the new technology unlike any other region of the country. The city was one of 14 chosen for the introduction of the new electric Ford Focus, partly because the city - and the state of Oregon - have been ahead of the curve in planning for electric car charging stations.

"Our vision has been, let's become the best premier launch market for electric vehicles in this country," says Charlie Allcock, Portland General Electric's economic development director. "We're going to have 1,000 charging stations publicly available from Portland down to Eugene by June 30, 2011."

So, as cars like the focus, the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt hit the streets, drivers will need to know where to find free electric car charging stations in the Portland area.

Parking garages

The area's first electric car charging station open to the public was installed by PGE in June 2010 in the World Trade Center parking lot in downtown Portland.

"Ever since I've been the governor, I've always wanted to do an underground press conference," then-governor Ted Kulongoski said at the ceremonies marking the opening of the charging station in the PGE World Trade Center garage at Southwest Taylor Street and Naito Parkway.

A number of other parking garages in the Portland area have followed suit and also added electric car charging stations, including Smart Park locations at SW Jefferson Street and SW 1st Avenue as well as NW Davis Street at NW 1st Avenue.

Public parking lots

Electric car charging stations are located in public parking spaces around the Portland area as well. The Hillsdale Library at 1525 SW Sunset Boulevard, for instance, has a location in its parking garage.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has one of the most unique electric car charging stations anywhere. The station is solar powered, with a canopy covering three spaces where drivers can charge their electric cars.

"OMSI is dedicated to helping the public learn more about the important relationship between energy and the environment, particularly regarding renewable energy sources," says OMSI President Nancy Stueber. "We are thankful to our partners for their generous support in providing OMSI and its visitors with such an accessible natural energy resource and learning tool."

Hotels

The Hotel Modera at 515 SW Clay Street in downtown Portland has an electric car charging station for its hotel guests. So does the Jupiter Hotel at 800 East Burnside in Portland, where its "green lodging" program also features amenities like free bus passes.

Retail

Stores across the country are starting to install electric car charging stations for their customers, with chains like Whole Foods Market and Best Buy leading the way. In Portland, that trend is evident at the Fred Meyer pharmacy at 3805 SE Hawthorne Blvd . Initiatives like the charging stations earned the store recognition in 2010 from the Oregon Energy Trust.

"Quick-charging stations may be the best answer for now for people without garages," says James Mast, senior project manager at the Portland Development Commission. "A person could plug in, have a cup of coffee at a coffee shop and return to a fully charged vehicle."