North America's first public-use quick-charge station for EVs opens

Portland General Electric, Oregon’s largest utility, and NEC Corporation, a leading network, communications and information technology company, have opened North America’s first public-use, quick-charge station for electric vehicles.
January 31, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

1067 Portland General Electric, Oregon’s largest utility, and 1068 NEC Corporation, a leading network, communications and information technology company, have opened North America’s first public-use, quick-charge station for electric vehicles.

“By making charging convenient and available for public use, we are telling car manufacturers that Oregon is ready for the next generation of electric vehicles — and we want our state to be a leader in introducing these cars to the rest of the country.”

The station was awarded public-use certification by the City of Portland following the successful installation and testing of the station manufactured by Takasago, a subsidiary of NEC, at the PGE headquarters in the Two World Trade Center parking garage on Salmon Street, Portland. The Takasago Rapid Charging Station is specialised for recharging electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries and requires only 20 to 30 minutes to recharge a battery to 80 percent of full strength.

PGE and NEC officially opened the quick-charge station with Governor Ted Kulongoski, who charged up an all-electric Nissan Leaf , during a two-day Leaf test drive event at PGE. Portland and the state of Oregon have been designated as top-tier launch markets for the Nissan Leaf when it goes on sale in the United States in December.

“Quick-charging stations are an exciting advancement in our effort to bring electric vehicles to Oregon,” said Gov. Kulongoski. “By making charging convenient and available for public use, we are telling car manufacturers that Oregon is ready for the next generation of electric vehicles, and we want our state to be a leader in introducing these cars to the rest of the country.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • US drivers turning to alternative fuel vehicles says research
    December 19, 2012
    Increasing numbers of US customers are turning to alternative fuel vehicles, according to the latest research from Mintel, which shows that sales are up 73%, with nearly 440,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electrics sold thus far this year. The rapid sales growth in hybrid and electric vehicles makes the segment the fastest growing in the US for 2012, supplanting the still fast growing, compact car vehicle segment. The number of plug-in and electric models available to the public has nearly quadrupled over
    Read More
  • After two decades of research, ITS is getting into its stride
    June 4, 2015
    Colin Sowman gets the global view on how ITS has shaped the way we travel today and what will shape the way we travel tomorrow. Over the past two decades the scope and spread of intelligent transport systems has grown and diversified to encompass all modes of travel while at the same time integrating and consolidating. Two decades ago the idea of detecting cyclists or pedestrians may have been considered impossible and why would you want to do that anyway? Today cyclists can account for a significant propor
    Read More
  • ITS America’s 2013 annual meeting declared a major success
    April 25, 2013
    The Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s (ITS America) 23rd annual meeting and exposition has concluded in Nashville, with all parties declaring it a major success. The four-day event brought together nearly 2,000 of the nation’s top transportation officials, business and technology leaders, researchers and policymakers, who explored solutions for easing traffic congestion, financing and improving the nation’s transportation system, advancing life-saving vehicle technologies, and much more throug
    Read More
  • Opinion: With e-scooters sharing is caring
    April 25, 2022
    Micromobility use is expanding: Voi’s Matthew Pencharz explains why lawmakers need to catch up with the growth of e-scooters in particular and the implications for safety
    Read More

Highlighted Content