STEVENS PASS — Stevens Pass Resort has completed the nation’s first mountain-pass electric vehicle charging stations.

The resort’s two new chargers along U.S. 2 might also be the only public units located at a ski resort anywhere in the Western U.S., the state Department of Transportat

ion announced in a June 1 press release.

Each Level-II station provides both a trickle charge and a faster charge, servicing two electric vehicles simultaneously. These 240-volt fast-charge units built by Coulomb Technologies Inc. allow EV drivers to recharge while they enjoy the resort’s recreational activities. Owners of vehicles like the new Nissan Leaf will gain approximately 15 miles of range for every hour of charging. Nearly empty batteries will require four to six hours to fully charge — perfect for a day of skiing or mountain biking at the resort or hiking from the trailhead of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Stevens Pass fills a critical link in EV charging infrastructure along U.S. 2, providing EV drivers with a well-placed recharging option and permitting journeys to Leavenworth or Wenatchee, where other chargers are located. The Stevens Pass stations are available to the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year with restrooms nearby and reliable cellphone coverage.

“Our companywide focus on sustainability includes many progressive programs, and we are especially pleased to remain on the cutting edge by installing these EV charging stations at the resort,” Ross Freeman, environment and sustainability manager for Stevens Pass, said in the press release. “We strive to lead the way among Pacific Northwest resorts in reducing our carbon footprint. Supporting the use of electric vehicles puts us one more step ahead of the competition.”

Grants from the ChargePoint America Program, which includes federal stimulus funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, helped pay for the new charging stations. Stevens Pass paid for all fabrication, installation and electrical work.

Both charging stations are connected via cellular signal to the national ChargePoint Network, allowing anyone with a smartphone or computer to access station location and real-time availability information, view their usage history and sign up for email alerts.

The average user fee for charging at Level-II stations is $4 to $5 per session, but Stevens Pass will waive this charge for an introductory period. Fees can be paid through a key-ring swipe pass, credit card or by calling a toll-free phone number on each unit.

Other locations along U.S. 2 are considering or have announced plans to install Level-II charging stations. Also along U.S. 2, the DOT will install two DC fast-charging stations (sometimes known as Level-III), which can provide an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes. By the end of 2011, this route will connect to I-5 and DOT’s Electric Highway Project.

“Stevens Pass is leading a national movement. This new electric-vehicle charging station is a peek at how most of us will drive to the mountains in the not-so-distant future, using cleaner, more efficient fuels,” Washington State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said in the press release. “It brings us closer to a seamless network of electric vehicle charging stations across Washington and, eventually, from Canada to Mexico with the West Coast Green Highway.”

“Businesses along U.S. 2 rely on tourism,” said Port of Chelan County’s Ron Johnston-Rodriguez, director of the PlugIn Center. “With fast charging stations along this scenic byway, travelers will be able to drive electric cars to popular destinations such as Stevens Pass, Leavenworth and Wenatchee.”

For more information about EV charging stations, go to www.ridestevenspass.com/electric-vehicle-info-sheet, www.westcoastgreenhighway.com/electrichighways.htm or www.PluginCenter.net.