Where to Find Free Electric Car Charging Stations in Austin Area

With the introduction of electric cars like the Chevy Volt – Motor Trend’s 2011 Car of the Year – more and more drivers in the Austin area will need to know where to find free electric car charging stations for their efficient new cars.

Electric cars are suddenly a hot topic nationwide, but particularly in Austin – one of nine cities in the country chosen for a pilot program by the federal government to fund the installation of free electric car charging stations. These charging stations will serve owners of new electric car models such as the Nissan Leaf and the Ford Focus.

So, where can the increasing number of environmentally-conscious car owners find free electric car charging stations in the Austin area?

Whole Foods Market

The Whole Foods Market at 525 N Lamar Blvd installed the area’s first free electric car charging stations in 2010. The chargers, located in the parking lot of the chain’s flagship store, are part of a test program that includes electric car charging stations in select Whole Foods Markets around the country, with Austin being the first.

“Whole Foods Market is committed to supporting wise environmental practices, which means making decisions that positively affect the health of our planet, its people, and its resources,” says Mark Dixon, Whole Foods southwest regional president. “It is our hope that by offering electric vehicle charging we can support alternative transportation and help Austin residents decrease their environmental impact.”

The chain will monitor usage at the charging stations before making decisions on whether to install them across the country.

“If the excitement is any indication, we’ll definitely see a big explosion in the use of these cars,” says Whole Foods Market spokesperson Rebecca Scofield.

Advanced Micro Devices

The 2,200 employees at AMD’s offices in Austin have had access to electric car charging stations for six cars in the company’s “Lone Star” campus parking lot since November 2010.

“AMD is an established leader in environmental responsibility,” says Tim Mohin, director of corporate responsibility at AMD. “AMD’s EV charging stations will support the development of the electric vehicle market while providing another option for our employees to commute to work sustainably and give them the confidence they need to seriously consider an EV purchase.”

Dell Computers

Dell is another company that has installed electric car charging stations that are open to the public. The stations are located at the company’s headquarters at 1 Dell Way in Round Rock. The Dell charging stations are part of the ChargePoint network, funded in part by the U.S. government as part of the federal stimulus spending of 2010.

Austin

Beginning this spring, electric car charging stations will be installed at a number of public places in Austin – including City Hall and some public libraries. The installations are part of a partnership between the city, Austin Energy, and the charging station manufacturer. According to an Austin Energy spokesperson, there are plans for between 100 and 200 electric car charging stations to be installed and available to the public by June 2011.