In preparation for the grand opening of Tesla’s gigafactory, the state of Nevada announced the plans to construct the first Electric Highway.
Nevada Electric Highway will run along the world famous US Route 95, which connects Reno and Las Vegas, passing through a desert landscape with small population.
The electric highway is essentially a network of charging stations. According to Governor Brian Sandoval and the partner NV Energy, who revealed the plan earlier this week, these facilities will give the comfort that drivers of electric vehicles need, in order to be convinced to drive the distance.
The plan comes as a response to the fast construction of Tesla Motors’s gigafactory in Reno. Although currently there are some 1,400 EVs registered in the state, it is highly likely that as soon as the factory begins operation, the numbers will jump sky-high. The officials believe that if the state wants to be prosperous then they will have to invest in facilities that accommodate electric vehicles.
As part of the project, by November, there will be five new electric charging stations, along Route 95. The key here is not so much in the numbers, but rather in the strategic location. Currently, the state has 150 charging stations, however none of them are placed in convenient distance from the key road to help facilitating a one-and-a-half day long trip.
The state is now looking for partners from Fallon, Hawthorne, Tonopah, Beatty and Indian Springs or other businesses along Route 95, who are prepared to facilitate a charging station. NV Energy, the guys who are also working with Apple to build a solar farm in Reno, will install them free of charge, but the business should allow users to charge vehicles also free of charge 24-7, for at least five years.
Each charging station costs a minimum of $6,000, if it does not feature a fast charging option. It will have Level 2 chargers, with additional one Direct Current or DC Fast Charger, which will allow charging in less than an hour.
With the new facilities in place, EV owners will finally be able to go from the north to the south part of the state on electric charge. What is more, the new charging stations will likely boost the rural businesses, as drivers will have to stop and spend time while their vehicle is charging.
Image (c) AP
