Tagged: Electric Cars

Drivers of electric vehicles in the Triangle and Triad will be able to take advantage of new charging stations in Alamance County. There are two on either side of I-40-I-85, at a rest area near Burlington. Julia Casadonte is a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

Julia Casadonte: Part of the idea of establishing this infrastructure is to make people more comfortable driving electric vehicles cuz people have to be confident they can be charged and remain charged and make sure they're not stranded anywhere.

Electric cars like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf are coming onto the market. And charging stations for them are starting to pop up as well. The state Department of Commerce awarded Raleigh-based Praxis Technologies a 240-thousand dollar grant. Praxis has partnered with Silicon Valley-based Coulomb Technologies to install around 20 electric car charge stations across the state. Praxis CEO Skip Kurz says their goal is to raise awareness about the technology.

The Plug-In electric car conference wrapped up its four-day run this week in Raleigh. It's the first time the conference, which draws car makers and utility planners from around the country, has been held on the East Coast. Conference planners were drawn to North Carolina's capital by the growing demand for electric vehicles in the Triangle.

If you are in downtown Raleigh this week you may see some small, brightly painted cars on the road that look out of place.   They’re likely electric cars on display for the national electric car conference – “Plug-In 2011.”  But there are also some sporty electric cars on display that will make your head turn in disbelief.  It’s a sign of the times and just how far the industry has come. 

A team from N.C. State could win a national competition today to design an environmentally friendly car. There are sixteen teams in the finals of the Eco Car contest being held in Washington this week. The winner will be announced later today. Jonathan Lohr is an assistant team leader for the Wolfpack. He says their car uses electricity and a bio-diesel engine.