When people think about electric charging stations, most people think about its use as applied to electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt. However, their exists another side to electric charging stations that are implemented in the Pacific Northwest and gearing up for the rest of the country. A company called Shorepower Technologies has developed a specialized charging station for truck stops. The company calls the stops electrified parking spaces and they are meant to reduce dangerous emissions from idling diesel trucks.

The benefits of an electrified parking space to a truck driver is that they will pay less money on using electricity for their needs versus burning diesel fuel while idling. Shorepower estimates that truck drivers can see a savings of up to $4000 a year by using electrified parking spaces instead of idling. The video below really does more justice in explaining the benefits to the environment and the benefits to the truckers.

With charging stations setup along the I-5 corridor in the Pacific Northwest, reduced emissions are welcomed. Their is quite a bit of support from state governments to reduce emissions and greenhouse gases as well as support from NGO's. In Oregon, a non-profit called the Oregon Toxics Alliance is actively playing a role to reduce emissions from idling with partnerships from businesses and the Department of Environmental Quality. The state of Oregon as well as other states will certainly benefit economically as well as environmentally from a system wide implementation of these outfitted truck stops.

The following markers on the map are the stations that are operational in Oregon and Washington. Go to Shorepower's website for details on the exact locations of these stations.

Shorepower also does make standard electric vehicle charging stations, of which I've taken a photo of at the OMSI museum in Portland. They have an impressive network of standard EV charging stations in the Portland Metro region that can also be seen on their website as well.

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