Electric vehicles are growing by the day and the next thing most of them would need is an electric station similar to the modern day gas station. With that said, Northeast Utilities announced today it is in the initial stages of developing an electric charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The initiative supports regional and national policy goals which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on petroleum-based resources.

“We see extraordinary potential in electric transportation as one of the tools to help meet the environmental and energy policy objectives of our regional and national leaders,” said James B. Robb, NU senior vice president of enterprise planning and development. “As the next generation of vehicles gets introduced, likely late in 2010, we want to be sure that New England is among the first markets. The development of a charging infrastructure is important, both to support the adoption of these exciting new vehicles and to allow us to assess the impact on our electric distribution system.”

“Plug-in hybrids and other electric vehicles are going to be important components of our green energy future, but they won’t work without a network of charging stations. I applaud Northeast Utilities for looking into the future and making this initial proposal to meet that need in their service territories,” said Philip Giudice, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Several car manufacturers have announced roll-out plans for their new plug-in EV models, with expected “miles-per-gallon-equivalent” ratings of at least 80 to 150 MPGe. According to Stoddard, the near-term availability of new EVs in New England will depend on how “plug-in ready” our states and communities are. This initiative, potential tax incentives and other favorable state and local policies are important factors in speeding the arrival of electric vehicles onto the streets of New England.

(Source) Press