Wilmington will soon be home to two new locations for recharging electric vehicles.

As part of its commercial charging station research program, Progress Energy Carolinas has installed two plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging stations at Mayfaire Town Center. The new stations are ready for use and are located on Conservation Way, behind Pottery Barn and the Melting Pot. Folks may recharge their electric car batteries while shopping and dining at the center. There is currently no charge for the charge.

“A well-developed charging infrastructure will be key to the success of electric vehicles,” said Paige Kon of Mayfaire Town Center. “Meeting the needs of the first-to-market drivers of electric vehicles in the communities we serve is yet another example of our continued growth and partnership with the community.”
 
Coming soon are two PEV charging stations in the City of Wilmington’s Market Street parking deck. On Progress Energy will begin installation on Monday, May 21 and expects the project to be complete at the end of the week. The two parking spaces equipped with chargers will be located near the parking deck entrance on Second Street. There will not be a fee for charging.

According to Malissa Talbert, spokeswoman for the City of Wilmington, data from the Electrical Power Research Institute show that the number of electric cars in New Hanover County’s will increase from 134 in 2012 to 795 in 2015.
 
Both installations are part of a Progress Energy pilot project. At the end of the project, ownership and maintenance responsibilities will pass from the utility to Mayfaire and Wilmington, respectively.