DevelopOhio

Smart Columbus recently announced that it has exceeded a goal set three years ago “to facilitate the purchase of 3,200 electric vehicles [EVs],” with 3,323 EVs sold in the Columbus region from April 2017 to February 2020, 10TV.com reports. In addition to surpassing that goal, Columbus “became the fastest-growing city in the Midwest for electric vehicle adoption,” according to the article. Because transportation “accounts for nearly 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. according to the Environmental Protection Agency,” Columbus could also see environmental benefits from increased EV adoption. For more, read the full article.

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers can now quickly and easily “fill up” at the first two fast-charge stations in downtown Columbus, according to a recent article in The Columbus Dispatch. Each of the stations, on Fulton Street west of South 4th Street, “can simultaneously charge two vehicles in about 30 minutes,” according to the article. The pilot project is “funded in part by a $10 million grant” awarded through Columbus’ Smart City Challenge. Mandy Bishop, project manager for Smart Columbus, said the goal is to have 1,000 fast-charge stations installed in the city by March, mostly near businesses and apartment complexes. Michael Mazur, COO of Greenspot, the company that operates the pumps, said, “Columbus continues to prove itself as a leading city . . . paving the way for cleaner, more efficient transportation options.” For more, read the full article.