Montgomery County’s first public electric vehicle charging stations opened today in Bethesda’s newest public parking garage.
County Executive Isiah Leggett and Acting Department of Transportation Director Al Roshdieh showed off the three stations capable of charging six vehicles at a time on the first floor of the Capital Crescent Garage.
The county built the garage in partnership with developers StonebridgeCarras and PN Hoffman, who are building an apartment and condo building above on what was a surface parking lot known as Lot 31.
The charging stations, which will cost users $0.13 per kilowatt hour, are the first of their kind to be offered publicly by the county. Roshdieh said MCDOT will install others in Bethesda Garages 11 (Woodmont Corner), 36 (Auburn-Del Ray) and 47 (Waverly) over the summer.
“This is part of our commitment in meeting the needs of those choosing a greener, cleaner lifestye,” Roshdieh said. “And part of our commitment to environmental sensitivity and sustainable transportation.”
The county rolled out the charging stations a few days before Earth Day. Leggett said the move is especially important considering the state legislature recently allowed electric vehicle company Tesla to sell its products directly to customers in Maryland.
Over time, the county says it will install enough charging stations in 24 parking lots and garages to charge 50 vehicles at a time.
Meanwhile, county officials say parking volume at the Capital Crescent Garage is picking up. Officials estimated the garage, which has about 960 public spaces, has been 60 percent full in peak times.
They’re hoping more people will use the garage when construction on The Darcy and The Flats finishes above.
The new spaces allow parking for up to four hours and do require drivers pay the same parking fee as those who use regular spaces.
