San Gabriel Valley : CHARGED UP
Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. unveiled the first electric vehicle charging station at a California retail store Wednesday by hooking up his electric car in the City of Industry.
The station, with connections for two vehicles, features 180 skylights to provide natural light, a computerized lighting system to adjust the amount of electric light needed, solar panels to provide a fifth of the store’s energy, a recycled asphalt parking lot and a room to teach children about energy and environmental conservation.
“Anyone with an electric car will be able to charge up here for free,” said Melanie Savage of Southern California Edison, which provided technical services to the Wal-Mart store on Gayle Avenue, where the station is located.
There are an estimated 500 to 800 electric vehicles in use on California’s roads, Savage said.
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