Tesla Motors Club

• ECOtality stations
• free for one year
• locations
  • the three camden county college campuses,
  • Cooper River Boat*house in Pennsauken,
  • two branches of the county library system (in Winslow and Bellmawr)
  • Camden County Technical School.

CHERRY HILL — Camden County officials unveiled seven electric car charging stations Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing commitment to creating a cleaner, greener environment for local residents.

The stations are said to be “strategically” placed around the county and will be free to all users for one year.


The county partnered with ECOtality North America to install the charging infrastructures. In total, the project cost about $60,000, half of which will be covered by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.


“Electric vehicles are the wave of our future,” Freeholder Jeff Nash said. “It is not only cost-effective, but it is important for our environment and our nation.


“We save money for ourselves, we reduce our carbon footprint and we also reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”


To date, about 100,000 plug-in cars have been sold in the U.S. So far this year, representatives from Winner Ford in Cherry Hill said they sold about 20.


The company’s top model is the Fusion Energi, which delivers about 100 mpg, making it one of the most fuel-efficient midsize cars in America.


“I get about 540 miles for every gallon of gas I use, but the key is finding these charging stations,” said Chevy Volt owner Steve Oliver, who will be installing a charger at his office in King of Prussia, Pa., next week.


According to the Department of Energy, there are an estimated 6,200 public charging stations in the country. About a dozen are in the tri-county area.


The county charging stations are located at each of the three Camden County College campuses — including its Cherry Hill campus named after William Rohrer, the longtime Haddon Township mayor and philanthropist who took over his father’s car dealership in 1935, and turned it into one of the largest Chevrolet dealerships in the nation by 1947.


“We hope county residents and those who travel Route 70 will ‘fill ’er up’ with power at the new charging stations,” Camden County College President Raymond Yannuzzi said.


Other locations include the Cooper River Boat*house in Pennsauken, two branches of the county library system (in Winslow and Bellmawr) and the Camden County Technical School.


“We are ahead of the curve,” said Chris Waldron, Camden County director of sustainability. “People can feel confident that when they drive long distances they can stop in South Jersey to plug in.”


According to newjerseygasprices.com, the average cost per gallon of gas in New Jersey is $3.57.


Nash said the average e-gallon will cost about $1.18.


Electric vehicles cost anywhere from $30,000 for the Volt to $100,000 for a fully-loaded Tesla S.


“As a freeholder, and more importantly as a mother, I am very concerned about sustainability and being thoughtful stewards of our natural resources,” Freeholder Michelle Gentek said.


“The installation of charging stations to facilitate the greater use of electric cars is the responsible thing to do for our future.”

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