THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PARTNER WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA PARTNERS TO INSTALL UP TO 100 EV CHARGING LOCATIONS IN AND NEAR NATIONAL PARKS
WELLFLEET, MA – Thanks to a partnership between the National Park Foundation, National Park Service (NPS), Department of Energy (DOE), and BMW of North America, four (4) electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for the public have been installed at the Wellfleet Town Hall parking area to serve the towns and Cape Cod National Seashore. The availability of this option will expand access for EV destination travel and help reduce air pollution in parks and gateway communities.
“Cape Cod National Seashore staff are excited to help support our gateway communities through this innovative partnership,” said Brian Carlstrom, National Seashore Superintendent. “The presence of multiple EV charging stations in Wellfleet Center provides a great new opportunity toward an energy efficient future for Outer Cape residents and visitors.”
This national project kicked off in April 2017 with the first electric vehicle charging stations installed at Thomas Edison National Historical Park in New Jersey.
With the installation of charging stations at the Wellfleet Town Hall parking area complete, an integrated team from this public private partnership is continuing to install charging stations in or near additional national park areas. When identifying site locations, the team is considering factors such as proximity and strength of EV markets, distance from nearby charging locations, and natural and cultural landscape considerations. Dozens of parks and site hosts have expressed interest, exploring site options and completing installations.
The Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office has provided technical assistance that supports innovative energy saving transportation projects at national park sites. These projects educate visitors on the benefits of advanced and alternative fuel vehicles and can help the National Park Service meet its energy, economic, and environmental goals. The benefits of these projects have the opportunity to reach far beyond the boundaries of the national parks.
“The automobile has long been central to the great American vacation in national parks,” said former National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “While our treasured landscapes offer familiar vistas time after time, the automobile has changed greatly, and parks want to meet the needs of our visitors who use all-electric cars. This partnership with BMW, the Department of Energy and the National Park Foundation offers electric car drivers a place to charge the car while recharging themselves with nature and parks.”
“Electric vehicle drivers can look forward to enjoying the quintessential national park road trip as more charging stations are added across the country,” said Will Shafroth, president of the National Park Foundation. “Not only will drivers benefit, but also the businesses and communities at the doorstep of our treasured national parks.”
ABOUT THE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE
Spanning six towns, Cape Cod National Seashore provides recreational and educational opportunities year-round to visitors through the preservation of park land, seashore, and historical sites. Learn more about the seashore by visiting https://www.nps.gov/caco.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
Celebrating 50 years, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Vehicle Technologies Office supports a broad portfolio of early- stage research and works directly with its nationwide network of Clean Cities coalitions to enable the widespread use of alternative fuels and energy efficient technologies that reduce transportation energy use and costs for businesses and consumers.
For more information about Cape Cod National Seashore, visit www.nps.gov/caco.