The Interstate-5, which runs all the way from Canada to Oregon, is to be turned into the nation's first electric highway.

A $1.32 million federal grant will be used to install a number of Level-3 fast charging stations along the route, each capable of charging an electric vehicle to 80% of its capacity within half an hour.

The US Electric Highways Project will encourage more people and businesses in Washington to buy and use electric vehicles, therefore reducing the impact of transportation on the environment and also reducing dependency on foreign oil.

Level-2 chargers will first be installed in rest areas along the Interstate-5, parking areas that get visited by thousands of travellers a year. The Level-3 fast charge units will be installed through partnerships with private firms, and they will be installed at appropriate locations approximately every 80 miles. This should be at sufficient intervals to serve the range of most new electric vehicles coming to the market, such as the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt.

As electric charging points are continued to be installed over the state of Washington, long distance travel in electrically powered vehicles will be more easily achievable. Ultimately the infrastructure will enable electric vehicle drivers to travel the length of the state along the 276 miles of Interstate-5 between Washington's borders with Oregon and Canada.

The next generation of zero emission plug-in electric vehicles will be available in Washington later in the year, with the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt and Ford Focus models being amongst the first to come to market. It has been estimated that as many as 300,000 electric vehicles will be in use on Washington's roads within the next 10 years.

When charging stations have been installed along Interstate routes, electric vehicle ready cities will no longer be isolated, and motorists will be able to travel between them whilst not having to worry about the range of their vehicle.

Washington State Department of Transportation