Last week, the Minnesota Discovery Center announced its installation of an EV charging station available to motorists with electric-powered, zero-emissions vehicles. The charging station will be able to fully charge any of the currently available electric vehicles—including the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius—in two to four hours, depending on the type of vehicle. The charging station is free to Minnesota Discovery Center members and visitors with paid admission.
The charging station is located on the Minnesota Discovery Center grounds next to the Iron Range Research Center and is one of the first public units on the Iron Range. “We are pleased to be one of the first public facilities in the region to offer EV charging service to our community who have an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle,” said Lisa Vesel. “It is critical that we move forward with technology and keep up with the most current needs of our visitors and travelers.”
In the photo, Jim Paulsen, Building and Grounds Manager from Minnesota Discovery Center; Mark Lantz, General Manager from Ranger GM-Hibbing; and Gina Oberstar, President/Owner of IRC Electrical Contractors, Inc. stand in front of the new electric-vehicle charging station at Minnesota Discovery Center.
Charging units are popping up at hotels, restaurants, retail sites, and tourist attractions around the nation. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that there are approximately 4,600 public charging stations currently installed in the U.S and the number is expected to grow in the coming decade.
A number of electric vehicles are for sale locally, with fully electric models in the coming decade. “When gas prices continues to rise, so does demand for alternative fuel vehicles,” says Mark Lantz, general manager of Ranger GM in Hibbing. “People need to really understand the advantage of hybrid vehicles especially with the incentives and rebates currently being offered.”
“We are pleased to be a part of advancing Iron Range’s capacity to accommodate electric vehicles and welcome new opportunities to develop an infrastructure that brings innovative green technologies to the region,” said Gina Oberstar, president/owner of IRC Electrical Contractors, Inc. It was the company’s first installation of the unit. “We are hoping others follow Minnesota Discovery Center’s lead.”
“We see the installation of EV chargers as a nod to our past even as we look forward to the future with our current guests, and the next generation of people who visit the Minnesota Discovery Center, said Jim Paulsen, Building and Grounds Manager at Minnesota Discovery Center.
Minnesota Discovery Center’s charging station initiative supports their commitment to being a leading environmentally responsible community partner through strategies that support sustainability and making their communities a happier, healthier, greener place to live and work.
