July 28, 2015
Electric Avenue opens at PGE headquarters in downtown Portland
4,000 local electric car drivers now have a permanent place to plug in

PORTLAND, Ore. - The largest lineup of electric car quick-charging stations in downtown Portland opened for business today as local EV drivers plugged in at the new Electric Avenue, located on S.W. Salmon Street between First and Second avenues.

Electric Avenue now features six charging stations, including four universal quick chargers that can recharge a typical EV in 30 minutes. It replaces the original Electric Avenue, opened on S.W. Montgomery Street on the Portland State University campus in 2011.

"We're pleased that our EV driving customers and visitors have a place to charge up as they visit downtown Portland." said Jim Piro, PGE president and CEO. "Oregonians are committed to sustainable practices, and they are excited by the possibilities offered by electric transportation."

The original Electric Avenue was a two-year research experiment in EV charging habits, but the facility quickly became an essential part of Portland's transportation infrastructure. All the charging stations saw regular daily use, and drivers often lined up to use the single quick-charger on site.

PSU plans to construct a new building at the site, however, so Electric Avenue needed to move or close in June 2015. Today's opening was the culmination of a year of planning by the original project partners - Portland General Electric, Portland State University and the City of Portland - to move the popular electric car charging facility to a permanent home.

There are an estimated 4,000 electric car drivers in the Portland area. In addition to appreciating the environmental benefits of electric transportation, many drivers also find that electric cars offer lower operating costs than gasoline-powered cars.

Powered by PGE renewable energy, Electric Avenue is part of a regional effort to offer sustainable transportation options that include electric-powered light rail trains, buses, streetcars, and an aerial tram. Electric Avenue serves as a hub in Oregon's array of more than 900 public EV charging stations, supporting electric cars, trucks, motorcycles and electric bikes. The six chargers will be a critical stop for many drivers who travel along the Oregon Electric Highway using quick charging stations along I-5 and I-205.

Fast Facts about Electric Avenue
Six charging spots; cars pay to park at regular City of Portland rates ($1.60/hr.).

There is currently no fee for charging; charging is sponsored by World Trade Center Portland.

Four Universal Quick Chargers:
  • Efacec brand
  • Both SAE Combo and CHAdeMO connectors
  • Charging rate: 50 kilowatts
  • Charges up a typical EV in 30 minutes

Two High-Power Level 2 chargers
  • Clipper Creek brand
  • SAE J-1772 connectors
  • Charging rate: 19 kilowatts
  • Charges up a typical EV in 3 to 8 hours, depending on the car's capability

More information about electric vehicles and charging for personal or business use is available at PortlandGeneral.com/plugin.

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About Portland General Electric Company: Portland General Electric, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a fully integrated electric utility that serves approximately 836,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon. Visit our website at PortlandGeneral.com.

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Source: Portland General Electric Company

For more information, contact:
Stan Sittser, PGE, 503-464-8271

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