NRG Energy is bringing electric cars to Texas with a new program that will create a network of 70 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. An additional 50 stations are also slated for the Houston area as well as another network along the Interstate 45 corridor, by the end of next year.
According to NRG, the chargers will have a 480-volt direct current fast charger that can add 30 miles of range to an electric car in as little as 10 minutes, and a 240-volt charger that can add up to 25 miles in an hour. Like a gas station, the chargers will be available and lit for easier access 24 hours a day. Customer service will also be available. Some stations may also be included as part of standard highway rest stops with convenience stores.
The company said it will charge users a flat monthly fee to charge up with plans costing $89 per month and including a home charger.
Texas joins a growing number of states with charging stations for electric vehicles along their highways. As CivSource reported recently, Washington and Oregon were the first out with Connecticut following closely behind. So far, there are two mass market electric vehicle models the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt, with other car makers expected to roll out their own offerings later this year.
“In Texas, we’ve adopted an all of the above approach in order to meet our energy needs, decrease foreign energy dependency and improve our air quality while protecting jobs and strengthening our economy,” Governor Perry said of the project.