Charging stations in works at West Knox

WEST KNOX COUNTY, TENNESSEE - The Electric Power Research Institute EPRI has started work on a solar-assisted electric vehicle charging station that will be built at its West Knox County office.

EPRI is developing the prototype station with the Tennessee Valley Authority as part of the EV Project managed by ECOtality formerly known as Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. as part of a multi-region project to "complement a residential, commercial, public and fast charging infrastructure network," according a press release.

The Corridor Park station will be followed by a second prototype station built at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory campus. Using the information from the prototypes, "regional deployment will be expanded" to other areas in the state.

TVA spokesman Mike Bradley said Tennessee is one of five states, and the only state in the east, selected to work on the project.

The prototype will have solar panels built as a canopy over charging stations to relieve the power grid when it's used during peak hours and to give a greener charging option for drivers, EPRI said. It will also help when multiple cars are charging simultaneously.

The plan is to build charging stations in areas with high traffic patterns.

Leslie Grossman, president of the Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association, said places "where folks go on a consistent basis," like shopping centers, and parking garages and lots, are ideal locations.

"It's a psychological boon," Grossman said. "People will know they can plug in when they're in town."

Grossman said some people are hesitant to buy electric cars, but development of charging stations should help boost sales, she said.

"It's like having all these eggs before there's a big chicken," Grossman said.

Bradley said the project is part of a $99 million grant given to ECOtality, to develop charging stations in support of the release of the Nissan Leaf battery electric car later this year.

Bradley said a typical electric car takes 4-8 hours to fully charge, depending on the voltage.

Grossman added that would be on a standard charge. There are two other types: a quick charge that takes about two hours, but most people at a charging station will probably use an "opportunity charge," about 30 minutes, to give the car a little more driving range.

The EPRI charging stations are intended for all electric vehicles and will meet standards designated by the Society of Automotive Engineers that will accommodate all future plug-in vehicles used in the U.S., according to the release.