Connecticut Will Double Electric Vehicle Charging Stations by Year End

The promise of state funding for businesses and municipalities who install publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations lured many to an electric vehicle expo at Middlesex Community College Tuesday.

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Commissioner Daniel C. Esty of the Connecticut Departments of Energy and Environmental Protection and Commissioner James P. Redeker of the Connecticut Department of Transportation came to Middletown to explain the goal is to more than double the 81 public charging stations statewide to 200 by the end of 2013.

In the parking lot outside, folks got to check out the zero-emission Nissan Leaf 100 percent electric car that seats up to five and can travel 100 miles on a battery charge. 

"You never have to change the oil or spend a dime on gas," said the representative from Crowley Nissan in Bristol, who compared the car's battery requirements to that of a washing machine and dryer. The battery is housed underneath the car, which lowers its center of gravity.

He said the base price on the Leaf is $28,000, with a $310 per month lease available.

Other cars on view included the five-door hatchback Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle, the Honda FIT EV, and Tesla P85.

Esty and Redeker said $200,000 in funding for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations will be awarded to proposals that provide the most matching funding from the project host site, are most accessible to the general public, and deploy charging stations in geographically diverse areas.

Businesses and municipalities that are interested in participating in the EV Incentives program should email EVConnecticut@ct.gov. More information is available at www.ct.gov/deep/evconnecticut.

A recent federal Department of Energy study shows that cost of operating an electric vehicle in Connecticut is around the equivalent of being able to access $1.70/gallon gasoline.