Nevada Announces Electric Highway

State is expanding its electric vehicle charging infrastructure along U.S. Route 95.

June 18, 2015

CARSON CITY, Nev. – This week Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and NV Energy unveiled the Nevada Electric Highway, a network of charging stations planned along U.S. Route 95 that would make it easier to drive the “sparsely populated, mostly desert route between Reno and Las Vegas with an electric vehicle,” reports USA Today.

Noting that only about 1,400 EVs are registered in Nevada, the news source writes that the state is paying close attention to EVs thanks to Tesla Motors, which is building a battery “gigafactory” outside of Reno.

“We've all driven this road before and have anxiety (even) with getting gas,” said Sandoval at a press conference. “Now we can have confidence to charge our electric vehicles and drive them from place to place (in Nevada).”

Nevada current has 150 EV charging stations installed, with five more planned by November as part of the Nevada Electric Highway initiative. USA Today writes that what makes those five stations especially crucial is their location. In addition to connecting the northern and southern parts of the state, the Electric Highway is also expected “to link rural areas and bring business to those communities from EV owners who make the stop to charge their cars.”

Each charging station will come with two Level 2 chargers and one DC Fast Charger. The state is also working with Tesla Motors to increase the number of Tesla fast chargers.

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