Portlanders driving around Downtown will already be familiar with a few electric car charging stations, and we’ve all seen those tiny smart cars zipping around town, but we’d wager those few are going to turn into hundreds in the coming years. Ford and PGE announced today that Portland will be the site of a electric vehicle tour, where residents will be able to test drive new models and ask questions about the cars, the technology, and the city’s plans for increasing charging stations and public awareness.
Ford has made agreements with the local Portland government and Portland General Electric to increase the availability of charging in public spaces, and to fund tax incentives for electric vehicles, joining Nissan and Mitsubishi in focusing on Oregon as a hot-bed of interest in the future of electric vehicles.
Ford is launching a national tour in Portland today, debuting the Ford Focus plug-in electric at Portland State University. The vehicles will be available for test drives at 1:30 p.m. in the plaza at the corner of Southwest Mill Street and Fifth Avenue.
Part of Ford’s plan is to involve PSU students and other Oregon University campuses in studying alternative energy and urban transportation. Ford also has plans to introduce a new electric van (!), the Transit Connect, later in 2010.
Given Portland’s progressive outlook and constant green renovations, it’s only natural that we’ll be seeing more and more interest in electric vehicles in the coming years. Can you imagine the roads filled with electric cars, light rail, and bikes? What do you think that would look like? Do you think the electric car trend will catch on in Portland? Share your thoughts below!
