Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Electric car charging stations to link Las Vegas and Reno

Electric car charging station

Ryan Olbrysh

An electric-car charging station at Rampart Casino.

CARSON CITY — U.S. 95 will be called the “Electric Highway,” said Gov. Brian Sandoval in his announcement that Nevada will join NV Energy to install charging stations for electric cars between Las Vegas and Reno.

Sandoval, at a news conference with NV Energy President, Paul Caudill, said this fits in with his plan for a “New Nevada.”

Using electricity in the existing power lines between Las Vegas and Reno, the plan is to partner with five different businesses along U.S. Route 95 and install three chargers at each of them by the end of the year.

Money for the project will come from NV Energy and Nevada's renewable energy tax abatements.

The electric car owner would not be charged for tapping in for charging power for the first five years, said Caudill. And he said the cost of these stations would not mean an increase in electric rates to customers of Nevada Power in Las Vegas and Sierra Pacific Power in Reno.

He said the goal is to keep electric rates stable in the next two years in these locations.

Marie Steele, manager of electric vehicles and renewal energy of NV Energy, said there are 1,400 electric cars registered in Nevada. These electric cars can run anywhere from 80 miles to 300 miles without a recharge, depending on the model.

The project will give drivers the confidence to complete the 450-mile journey in their short-range electric cars, said Sandoval. He said drivers who stop in small towns and explore while their cars charge would also generate business for rural economies.

In Nevada, there are 92 electric charging stations with 292 outlets, according to the U.S. Department of Energy website, compared to Arizona's 312 electric charging stations and 787 outlets. The numbers do not include residential electric charging infrastructure.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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