PRESS RELEASE:
The network of electric vehicle fast chargers is growing and connecting communities across western North Carolina. “The strategic deployment of public charging stations is critical for strong EV market growth,” says Stan Cross, CEO and Co-Founder of Asheville-based Brightfield Transportation Solutions. “Publicly accessible Fast Chargers located along highway corridors, such as at Asheville Outlets and Biltmore Park Town Square along I-26, is a key part of the deployment strategy. Fast chargers can charge an EV up in under 30 minutes. As EV range across all models increases to 200-miles per charge beginning in 2017, there will be more EVs on the road further away from home in need of a fast charge to keep on moving.”
Today (Friday, September 9th 11:30am), two new DC Fast Charging Stations, donated by Nissan USA Corporation, were dedicated at the Asheville Outlets Mall and are available for public use.
Asheville Outlets Fast Chargers are located in the back parking area near the Food Court entrance. Asheville Outlets is one of the best charging sites in the state with four Level 2 medium speed charging stations and also eight Tesla Superchargers. Asheville Outlets representative Tammy Cox said any type of plug-in electric vehicle can now charge at the mall.
Stan Cross said with these new sites there are now seven fast charger locations in Western NC including A-B Technical College, Aloft Hotel, Biltmore Park Town Square and Asheville Public Works in the Asheville area, downtown Waynesville and near the Cherokee entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Bill Eaker, Coordinator of the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition in Asheville, said the Coalition and its partners have been working for seven years to get the Asheville Metropolitan Area ready for EV market growth.
“The main goals of the planning were increasing public awareness of the benefits of electric drive vehicles and the development of a network of public access charging stations to help make drivers comfortable with purchasing these vehicles. Currently there are more than 800 PEVs in the region and over 4,000 registered in NC and the numbers are growing at a fast rate,” Eaker said.
“It’s not just about local EV drivers”, says Cross. “Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte and Greenville are all strong EV markets, with Atlanta being among the strongest nationally. Those markets are also the top feeder markets of WNC’s tourism industry. We envision Asheville becoming the southeastern destination to take your EV on vacation.”
Blue Ridge EV Club leader Rudy Beharrysingh owns a Nissan LEAF, an all-electric vehicle he purchased several years ago. “It was a good choice for me, environmentally and monetarily.” The Club is kicking off National Drive Electric Week with an event at the Asheville Outlets on Sunday, September 11 from 12noon to 4pm where visitors can ride around the parking lot in a variety of electric drive vehicles and talk with experts.
About Asheville Outlets
Real Brands. Unreal Savings. Save up to 70 percent off on America’s most desired brands at Asheville Outlets, an open-air lifestyle destination developed by New England Development. Located at the intersection of I-40 & I-26 at Brevard Road, Asheville Outlets includes over 70 retailers and restaurants, featuring some of the most popular brand names. Visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com. Follow us on Facebook @ashevilleoutlets, Twitter @shopasheville and Instagram @ashevilleoutlets. For group tour information, email tours@shopashevilleoutlets.com.
About Brightfield Transportation Solutions
Brightfield TS offers charging solutions for commercial, workplace and municipal properties that are custom brandable and solar-integrated, and come equipped with a selection of industry leading chargers. For information go to brightfieldts.com
About Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition
The Coalition promotes the use of alternative fueled and advanced technology vehicles and works with fleets to convert to these fuels/technologies. The Coalition is one of 87 US Department of Energy designated Clean Cities Coalitions in the nation working to reduce petroleum use and improve air quality. For information go to cleanvehiclescoaltition.org
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.