Over the last few decades, electric cars have become an increasingly popular way to get around. There are several factors shifting us from gasoline powered to plug-in vehicles, including rising gas prices, state caps on greenhouse gas emissions, as well as estimated cost increases for petroleum products.
Since the 1980s, Portland’s transportation system has been slowly electrified, starting with the light rail trains, which lead to our modern electric streetcars. Today, there are a variety of electric and plug-in vehicles available to the public. Connecting Portland and Portland State to these electric vehicles is “Electric Avenue”, a unique venture created by PSU, Portland General Electric, and the City of Portland.
Electric Avenue was launched in Aug. 2011 and started as a two-year research partnership. Located on campus along SW Montgomery St. between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, it offers electric vehicle drivers the chance to park and plug in to one of multiple charging stations available.
“Electric Avenue is unique because it is located on a city block, and those who use it pay city rates for their spots,” said John MacArthur, a sustainable transportation program manager at PSU. MacArthur explained that before Electric Avenue was open to the public, many people had never seen charging stations or knew how they worked. Typically, electric vehicle owners charge at home or in a parking garage that offers one or two charging stations.
The charging stations on Electric Avenue are powered with 100 percent renewable energy provided by PGE. This goes hand in hand with PSU’s commitment to implement more sustainable practices. Two types of charging stations are available: one that can charge a car in approximately 30 minutes or under, and another that takes approximately two hours, depending on the car.
Under the hood, one of the main differences between gasoline and electric cars is that an electric car has an electric engine, and gets its power from a controller. The controller gets its power from rechargeable batteries. A gasoline engine, with its many hoses, pipes and fuel lines, looks a bit like a plumbing project. An electric car, by contrast, is more of a wiring project.
Electric cars are commonly known for creating less pollution and for being the environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline-powered cars—particularly in cities. These cars, however, need to be recharged, and that power has to come from somewhere. Renewable sources include hydroelectric facilities and solar cells. Even if the electricity is drawn from a coal-burning power plant, it’s easier to control emissions from that single point of origin than it is from the many vehicles on the road.
Many people assume that electric cars, while efficient, are not practical for driving prolonged distances, which is simply not the case.
The majority of people drive 50 miles or less each day. This is more than doable in an electric vehicle. Most electric cars can travel between 50 and 80 miles on a charge. Those who invest in a Tesla electronic sports car, like the Model S, can go up to 300 miles on a charge.
“Electric Avenue has made Portland a very useful waypoint for electric vehicle drivers,” MacArthur said. “Our charging stations are fairly heavily used and they bring many people through campus on their way to or from Salem or Seattle.”
Electric motors also have less moving parts, which means fewer points of failure. This makes them slightly more dependable than your typical gas-powered engine. Other than recharging the vehicle, regular maintenance on an electric car is the same as any gas-powered car.
One downside to electric cars is that they are an expensive purchase, and replacing the batteries can be pricey as well. However, electricity is cheaper than gasoline, thus electric vehicle drivers save money on a per-mile basis. Some areas, like California, also offer major tax incentives and rebates for drivers of electric vehicles.
With the increasing popularity and advantages of owning an electric vehicle, the future of Electric Avenue has become an interest to many. After its initially planned first two years, it was decided to extend the project at least one more year. At some point it will have to close because of the redesign of the PSU business school, but discussions about when and where to move it are already beginning to happen.
“We are looking into how to maintain this option for electric vehicle owners, and plan to continue working to create more awareness about the project,” MacArthur said.
For more information visit Electric Avenue’s official website at: http://www.pdx.edu/electricavenue.
