What's Happening in Cary, NC…

The newly popular trend of electric cars just got a boost in North Carolina. The Town of Cary recently began a two-year pilot project this month that will see numerous charging stations installed across the downtown, where electric cars can charge up for free.

High capacity power units have been installed at charge stations found at Town Hall, Cary Arts Center, and the operations center on James Jackson Avenue. The pilot project is part of a regional initiative to examine how successful the charging stations are and whether public infrastructure could support the demand for electricity generated by electric cars.

The joint venture project is funded by the federal and private sectors. The federal government offered a $30,000 grant to supplement Duke Energy covering the cost of two of the three units installed.

Officials expect that the public charging stations will be used to top up the electrical energy stored in the car. A one-hour recharge while the owner is shopping or eating lunch will result in power for approximately 20 additional miles. A 100-mile trip usually requires eight hours to recharge the electric car.

Many opportunities exist to promote and educate the public on the free charging stations, including poster printing that includes maps and a list of locations, flyer printing, and banner printing.

Duke Energy has installed two of the five charging stations free of charge, as well as fitting many more in private homes. The trend toward electric cars is growing, with more than 60 Nissan LEAF electric cars being sold from a local dealership over the last 10 months.