Maryland Gas Station First to Become EV Charging Station
Photo: Mitsubishi Motors
Electric vehicles are becoming staples in the automotive industry. Following this trend, a gas station in Takoma Park, Maryland, became the first to completely switch from a petroleum station to an EV charging station in the U.S.
A Brighter Future: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
The reasoning behind the EV charging station
RS Automotives has functioned as a gas station since 1958. Depeswar Doley became the owner in 1997 and recently decided that he didn’t want to work with gasoline and oil companies anymore.
The idea to switch to an EV charging station was sparked when a public works manager recommended Doley speak to the Electric Vehicle Institute. With support from his daughter, Doley decided to convert his station and said, “It’s a good cause [and] good for the environment.”
Both the Maryland Energy Administration and the Electric Vehicle Institute funded the transition. The new chargers will be of use to an electric taxi service and the over 20,700 EVs that are registered in Maryland.
RS Automotives will allow four vehicles to charge at once with the four dispensers. Each dispenser connects to a 200kW system. It only takes 20 to 30 minutes for the battery to be charged 80%. While drivers wait, they can relax in the automated convenience store and watch their vehicle’s charging progress on screens.
In a release, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said, “This fully converted gas-to-electric charging station is a prime example of our administration’s commitment to the environment and transportation.”
Up-and-Coming Innovation: Dendo Drive House system
It seems as though electric vehicles will continue to become a larger part of the automotive industry moving forward, and it’s great seeing how Americans, like Doley, are working to support this change.
News Source: CNBC
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.