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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Bill could gut GMO ordinance, group says ... Our View: We are not ready for The Really Big One ... Serious crime down in Medford ... Bill could gut GMO ordinance, group says ... Our View: We are not ready for The Really Big One ... Serious crime down in Medford ... OUR VIEW Our View: Charging ahead on supporting electric vehicles MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 21, 2015 @ 2:00 am Posted Jul. 21, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Official statistics indicate state-installed fast-charging stations for electric vehicles have recorded 30,000 uses in three years. That might sound impressive, but a closer look reveals traffic on the West Coast Electric Highway is a far cry from bumper-to-bumper. Still, the charging network was installed to encourage more use, not in response to existing demand. Patience is called for. The 30,000-charge figure looks less imposing when you realize that there are 44 charging stations scattered around the state, and only about 6,000 electric vehicles registered in Oregon so far. Over three years, that's 10,000 charges a year, so those 6,000 vehicles used a state charging station less than twice a year on average. Of course, some stations saw more use than others. The top station, in Portland, saw nearly 3,000 uses. The station in Ashland recorded 917, the most of any station in this region and 11th of the 44 statewide. Electric vehicles offer emission-free travel at a fraction of the cost of gasoline, although the purchase price is higher than gas-powered cars. Range is also a concern that may keep sales down. Most electric vehicles can travel only about 100 miles between charges, and take 20 to 30 minutes to recharge at the quick-charge stations. Home charging models can take up to 12 hours for a full charge. So driving an electric car at this point means being willing to put up with a certain amount of inconvenience — rather like owners of the first automobiles, who had to carefully plan trips to be sure of finding fuel when they needed it. Still, cars improved steadily, and it wasn't long before filling stations sprouted nearly everywhere. Critics will decry the expense — about $100,000 per charging station — as a waste of taxpayers' dollars to benefit an elite few. But if there are no charging stations, electric vehicles will never become a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine. And the private sector is pitching in, too, installing charging stations separate from the state network. Electric cars may be few in number now, but that number is growing rapidly, more than doubling from July 2013 to July 2014. Improvements in technology should extend the range of these vehicles, and sticker prices will come down as used vehicles become available. Meanwhile, investing now in the infrastructure to support alternative fueled vehicles makes sense.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 21, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501