The city is working with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other entities to develop about 350 electric vehicle recharging stations throughout the area. About 10 of these stations would be powered with solar energy, further compounding the environmental benefits the electric vehicles will offer.
"We've been meeting frequently with project partners to think through the challenges and opportunities for electric vehicles in the Knoxville area and to identify places where the charging stations should go," said Susanna Bass, sustainability program manager of Knoxville.
The Knoxville effort is part of a broader initiative that includes Nissan and General Motors/Chevrolet that will see about 15,000 charging stations and 8,000 electric vehicles introduced to various test markets.
While Nissan and Chevrolet are likely to generate considerable attention in the coming months as they roll out their new electric vehicles, the charging stations in question will be suitable for other makes and models as well.
