Chargers have been installed in 9 city-owned garages. Installation encourages use of electric cars by motorists.

Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was joined by Department of General Services (DGS) Director Theodore “Ted” Atwood, Parking Authority of Baltimore City (PABC) Executive Director Peter Little, and John Murach of Baltimore Gas and Electric to celebrate the installation of electric car chargers in City-owned garages. Mayor Rawlings-Blake drove a 2011 Chevy Volt to demonstrate the ease with which plug-ins can be recharged.

“These new electric vehicle charging stations prove that Baltimore is ready to support the growing electric vehicle industry,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “I want to thank the Governor and the Maryland Energy Administration for their support of this effort to improve services for hybrid vehicle owners, and grow our city.”

The City has installed chargers in nine city-owned garages for use by motorists. Each charger can support two electric vehicles. The Parking Authority has dedicated 18 parking spaces in City-owned garages to allow electric vehicle drivers to charge their car batteries while at home, work, running errands, or enjoying one of Baltimore’s many attractions. For drivers, plugging in is free when they pay to park in the garages. Installation of the chargers was funded by a Maryland Energy Administration grant that City DGS received for $134, 366.

The Mayor drove a Chevy Volt which is being test-driven by the DGS Fleet Division this week. This year, DGS has also test driven the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid vehicle. Both electric vehicles use plug-in technology in addition to regenerative braking to recharge the battery.

Electric Vehicle chargers can be found in the following PABC garages:

• Arena Garage – 99 S. Howard Street (2nd Level)
• Baltimore Street Garage – 15 Guilford Avenue (2nd Level)
• Caroline Street Garage – 805 S. Caroline Street (1st Level)
• Lexington Street Garage – 510 E. Lexington Street (2nd Level)
• Little Italy Garage – 400 S. Central Avenue (1st Level)
• Penn Station Garage – 1151 N. Charles Street (Level 1B)
• Redwood Street Garage – 11 S. Eutaw Street (Lower Level)
• Water Street Garage – 414 Water Street (Level 3)\
• West Street Garage – 40 E. West Street (Lower Level)

The use of energy efficient vehicles with reduced emissions helps support the Baltimore Sustainability Plan and state EmPower goals, which work to significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas pollution 15% by 2015. DGS has already put City government ahead of that goal, and the City is on-target to see a 20% or more reduction by 2015.

The City’s electric chargers are open for business at a time when energy is a focus for the country. October is National Energy Awareness month, and the official opening of the electric vehicle chargers is one of many activities the City has held this month. Other events included a seminar on Baltimore City Energy Contracts and Green Initiatives, and the launch of the City Employee Energy Challenge, a competition among three City agencies for reduced energy use. Energy Awareness Month is a national effort to underscore how energy is central to our national prosperity, security, and environmental well-being.