This press release came across my inbox this morning and I thought I would share it:
Electric vehicle charging stations abuzz at
Oceanside Transit Center
OCEANSIDE,Calif.—Electric car charging stations are now live and available for customers to use for free in the Oceanside Transit Center (OTC) parking lot.
The North County Transit District is offering the charging equipment as part of a nationwide test program with the U.S. Department of Energy. Solar panels in the OTC parking lot cover the top of a carport structure built over seven parking spots designated for transit customers who want to charge their electric vehicles (EV).
The OTC charging station, the largest in North County, uses direct solar power during the day when the sun is shining. When the charging stations are not in use, the solar power is used to power other systems at the transit center. The 220-volt stations will take about 5 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle.
The OTC is a key location in the county along the I-5 corridor offering access to trains and buses headed all over California and beyond. The site is currently the only open public location between Encinitas and Orange County.
“Our agency’s goal is to provide transit solutions, and we know a major challenge for many of our customers is that last mile from the transit stop to their destination or home,” said Angela Miller, NCTD’s award-winning Chief of Sustainability. “These charging stations allow our transit customers to achieve their entire trip with very low emissions.”
EV drivers can visit https://www.blinknetwork.com/ to join Blink and get a free membership card, which is tapped on the charger module to activate the flow of electricity. For the first year, the electricity will be offered for free.
Encinitas Mayor Jerome Stocks, who is on the NCTD Board of Directors and drives his own Nissan LEAF, is proud NCTD is offering the most innovative transit solutions.
“We are eager to see this EV charger network grow in this region, and we are proud NCTD transit centers are at the heart of it,” he said. “We are considering similar installations at our stations in Sorrento Valley, Encinitas, and Carlsbad.”
The charging stations were installed at no cost to NCTD by ECOtality as part of the corporation’s ongoing efforts to use a $115 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to build 15,000 recharging stations in 16 targeted areas, including 1,400 in San Diego County. The solar panels were installed by Martifer Solar. Through a competitive grant, NCTD secured funding for multiple solar energy demonstrations projects, including installations at maintenance facilities, in the rail right of way, and the OTC parking lot canopy, that will save NCTD $1 million in operational energy costs in the first five years.
About NCTD
The North County Transit District is a public transportation agency providing 12 million passenger trips annually throughout North San Diego County and into downtown San Diego. NCTD’s system includes BREEZE buses, COASTER commuter trains, SPRINTER light rail trains, and LIFT paratransit service. NCTD’s mission is to deliver safe, convenient, reliable and user-friendly public transportation services.
About Martifer Solar USA
Los Angeles based Martifer Solar USA, (www.MartiferSolarUSA.com) specializes in the design, engineering and installation of residential, commercial and industrial-scale photovoltaic (PV) electric systems and components. Martifer Solar USA has been installing systems within the U.S. since 2001. Martifer Solar is a division of the Martifer Group, (www.Martifer.pt), a publicly traded construction and renewable energy company. To date, Martifer Solar has participated in the implementation of over 100 MW of photovoltaic solar energy worldwide.
About ECOtality
ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECTY), headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies. Through innovation, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, ECOtality accelerates the market applicability of advanced electric technologies to replace carbon-based fuels. For more information about ECOtality, Inc., please visit www.ecotality.com.