Electric cars have been with us for more than 20 years. We’ve gotten used to their whisper-quiet movement and increasingly long range on little or no traditional gasoline. Thanks to Puget Sound Energy (PSE), Thurston County residents can now charge more than their credit cards when out shopping thanks to a new electric vehicle charging area near Sleater-Kinney Road SE in Lacey.
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that “Hybrid vehicle sales began in 1999 and plug-in electric vehicle sales began in 2010.” Their numbers show that in 2019 alone, Americans bought more than 400,000 zippy, fun-to-drive hybrid electric and 240,000 fully electric automobiles with significant increases annually over the past several years.
PSE’s first Up & Go Electric public charging station was installed at The Hub at Lacey and began operations September 17, 2020. The site offers both Level 2 and DC fast charging ports that can be accessed through their readily downloadable Up & Go Electric app. This app lets you find the nearest charging station, monitor your status and pay online with real-time availability and details.
Why start in Lacey? Paul Gardner, a product development manager for PSE’s New Product Team, says many factors were taken into account. These included a “lack of existing charging infrastructure (especially fast charging), highly travelled areas and roadways, and how walkable the site is for drivers. With PSE’s Up & Go stations, we wanted to choose locations where drivers would have amenities other than remain in the vehicle while charging. After gathering this information and data, we sent a survey out to customers in our service area to help us prioritize which areas to focus on.” The Hub and surrounding blocks offer everything from fast food to fine jewelry, salons and staples, lattes and groceries.
The stations can be used on any electric vehicle, though “if you own a Tesla, you will need to buy an adapter from Tesla as they have a proprietary connector,” says Gardner. “Our public charging stations are open to all drivers and feature a mix of direct current fast charging (DCFC) and Level 2 (240V) charging ports for fast and reliable charging for multiple vehicles. So, we can fully charge vehicles in a matter of minutes with our high-power DC chargers. They can charge vehicles at a rate up to 150kW, which can charge a vehicle with 100 miles of range in under an hour. If a slower rate of charge is needed our Level 2 charging stations charge at a rate of 7kW which charges at a rate of approximately 20 miles in an hour.”
A project like this would typically take approximately 18 months from site selection to fully active but the rigors of COVID-19 meant things took a little longer. However, key partnerships kept things flowing smoothly. “PSE partnered with Greenlots for our software and hardware solutions as well as local company Alpha Omega for the construction of the project” says Gardner. “ As for our first charging station at the Hub at Lacey, the City of Lacey was an enthusiastic partner during the entire process, as was MJR Development, property owners of the Hub. In fact, Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder was one of the first drivers to use the new charging station.”
Green energy is vital in so many ways and PSE has a longstanding commitment to increasing its use statewide. For every customer who uses one of these charging stations—they have at least seven more planned throughout their service area—they’ll match every charge with 100% renewable energy.
“PSE is committed to creating a better energy future for our customers, and has made our Up & Go Electric public stations a greener charging option,” says Gardner. “This means that all of our public chargers are matched with 100% renewable energy. The remaining stations will all be operational by the end of 2021.”
If you have, or are considering the purchase of, an electric car, sign up for PSE’s Up & Go Electric newsletter. There you’ll find additional resources, timelines, announcements and tips to make every journey a success. You can even use their Electric Car Calculator to see how much you’d save by switching your ride. And while public events are on hold during the Coronavirus, their Ride and Drive portal shows off the latest in electric autos showcased at the expansive 2019 Seattle International Auto Show.
Americans have always loved their cars and—until recently—we spent a whopping 18 days a year behind the wheel. Why not save hassle, cash and the planet by switching to an electric vehicle today? With PSE’s new charge-while-you-shop approach in Lacey, by the time you’ve crossed everything off your to-do list, the car will be charged up and ready to go on your next big adventure.
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