Arpin Renewable Energy, an Arpin Group company, has teamed up with Cardi's Furniture Superstores to provide drivers of plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid cars with the first public car charging station in R.I. The electric car charging station was unveiled in August during a ribbon-cutting event attended by governor Donald Carcieri.
"Energy is what drives our nation's economy," said governor Donald Carcieri. "I'm very excited to see two great Rhode Island-based companies taking the lead in this endeavor."
The Coulomb electric charging station provides an outlet for what is known as a Level 1 charge at 110 volts (the same as common household outlets) and a corded plug delivering the faster 240-volt or Level 2 charge, which includes a standardized nationally certified plug connector that will be in use throughout the nation. Two cars may charge at the station simultaneously and it is intended for those drivers who desire a booster charge between longer nightly charges at home.
With this unit, R.I. has joined a small but growing list of states and cities building infrastructure for the wave of new electric cars and plug-in hybrids, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, which will soon enter the market.
"The Arpin-Cardi's electric car charging station is the first step toward building Rhode Island's electric vehicle infrastructure, making it possible for owners of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to recharge away from home," said Peter Arpin, CEO of Arpin Renewable Energy. "Our goal is to promote electric vehicles in order to reduce air pollutants, decrease our dependence on imported oil and benefit the local economy, making Rhode Island a better place to live."
Arpin Group and Cardi's are working together to support Project Get Ready Rhode Island (PGR RI), a non-profit initiative to establish R.I. as a leader in green transportation, decrease transportation costs, and reduce emissions by getting 10,000 plug-in electric vehicles into service in R.I. by 2015. With its high population density and small size, R.I. is an ideal location for electric vehicle adoption. PGR RI is working to recruit companies, institutions, municipalities and state agencies to commit to the installation of 30 charge spots in R.I.which will be announced over the next several months. The non-profit organization is coordinating with its partnering utility, National Grid, to develop a plan for electrifying 2% of Rhode Island's cars without significantly increasing peak grid load.
The new station is located at the Cardi's Furniture Superstore, 1681 Quaker Lane (Rte. 2).