Electric charging stations are beginning to sprout up around the National Park System, making it a bit easier for visitors with electric vehicles to recharge while enjoying the parks.
In November two charging stations were installed by Xanterra Parks & Resorts in Zion National Park. These new chargers are harbingers of good things to come for EV drivers. Five additional public EV charging stations are being built in Zion as part of the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative. This joint effort of the National Park Service and the DOE Clean Cities program is scattering public charging stations in national parks and gateway communities around the country.
Charging stations, like this one in Zion National Park, are starting to sprout up across the National Park System/Xanterra Parks & Resorts
According to a DOE spokesperson speaking on background, the National Park Service is interested in contributing to the growing network of stations that allow electric vehicles to go farther, making low-emission trips and travel possible. Already completed are projects at Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California (two public charging stations and 10 outlets) and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas (one public charging station and two outlets).
Public charging stations also are in the works in these parks: Acadia National Park in Maine, Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina, Mississippi River National River and Recreation Area in Minnesota, National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C., Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Recreation Area in Michigan, and Zion.
National Park |
Public Charging Stations |
Public Outlets (may be more than 1 outlet per charging station) |
Acadia National Park |
2 |
4 |
Catoctin Mountain Park |
3 |
6 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
4 |
8 |
Mississippi River National River and Recreation Area |
12 |
24 |
National Mall and Memorial Parks |
2 |
4 |
Petroglyph National Monument |
1 |
2 |
Rocky Mountain National Park |
1 |
2 |
Shenandoah National Park |
2 |
4 |
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Recreation Area |
2 |
4 |
Zion National Park |
5 |
10 |
In a separate initiative, Point Reyes National Seashore in California unveiled new chargers in September. Public charging stations and public outlets also can be found at other national parks including Santa Monica National Recreation Area, in California, Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia, and Yosemite National Park in California, said the DOE spokesperson.
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