If you're one of the environmentally-friendly city residents who is driving an electric car around the streets of Salem, you now have a few new places to park and charge up.
The city of Salem recently announced the completion of the installation of eight electric vehicle charging stations in the Museum Place and South Harbor parking garages.
(The South Harbor Parking Garage charging station are located on ground level - The Museum Place Parking Garage charging stations are located on the second level.)
The ChargePoint Network Coulomb Technologies Charging Stations, seen in the photos attached to this post, allow for electric vehicles to plug in via a standard 18-foot cable and are capable of fully charging a vehicle in about five hours.
In coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and Voltrek, the approved vendor for the MA DOER EV Charging Station Grant program, both garages now have four charging stations that provide access to eight parking spots of electric vehicle parking.
According to a press release issued by Mayor Kim Driscoll's Chief of Staff Jason Silva, placing chargers near where people live and work is considered an important part of reducing the “range anxiety” that could otherwise slow the adoption of electric vehicles.
“This project demonstrates Salem’s continued commitment to renewable energy technologies,” Driscoll said in the release. “Thanks to the Patrick-Murray Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the City has been able to fund these charging stations which will support the use of electric vehicles in our community.”
The city of Salem will provide this power free of charge for two years.
Do you drive an electric vehicle? Will you use these charging stations?
Let us know in the comments section below.
