Travelers heading into the North Cascades now have greater peace of mind. Today marks the grand opening of Washington Stateโs first electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging station funded by the Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program (WAEVCP). This new station, located at A1 Gas and Food off State Route 530 in Arlington, represents the stateโs largest Climate Commitment Act (CCA) investment in EV infrastructure.
The Washington State Department of Commerce joined forces with the Clean and Prosperous Institute, Seattle-based Electric Era, and charge site developer Skycharger. Together with local partners, they celebrated this publicly funded, nonprofit-led project. It demonstrates how local partnerships and innovative technology can deliver clean transportation solutions quickly and affordably. The station fills an important charging gap, serving EV drivers traveling between Interstate 5 and the North Cascades.
Collaboration Drives Rapid Deployment and Reliability
โThis charging station is a result of collaboration between Washington state, private industry, and local leaders to solve real-world challenges,โ said Commerce Director Joe Nguyแป n. โItโs about cleaner air, stronger communities, and creating a more reliable EV experience for Washington drivers.โ
Electric Era, Skycharger, and the nonprofit Clean and Prosperous Institute worked closely with state and city officials. Their collaboration expedited approvals and completed installation in just eight months. This time frame is less than half the typical 18 to 36 months for similar fast-charging projects. These projects usually require significant grid upgrades due to high electrical power demands.
During a two-month soft launch period, the chargers received a perfect 10.0 PlugScore on the PlugShare app, indicating exceptional reliability. The new chargers are already attracting new customers to A1 Gas and Food, thereby expanding EV access in the region. The station supports electric travel for Arlington residents and connects travelers to a growing electric corridor between the Seattle metro area and the North Cascades. โThis project fills critical charging gaps and proves that collaboration accelerates the clean energy transition,โ said Skycharger COO Johannes Copeland.
Innovation Powers Cleaner, More Affordable EV Access
Unlike traditional EV chargers, this station utilizes onsite battery storage. This innovative approach draws power gradually from the grid. As a result, it requires fewer utility upgrades, lowers peak demand, and reduces fuel costs for drivers by avoiding high โdemand chargesโ commonly associated with fast charging.
โIf companies and government entities are going to meet their carbon reduction targets through EV adoption, they need to streamline the process,โ said Kyler Schmitz, chief revenue officer at Electric Era. โThey must also work with their suppliers to get up and running as soon as possible.โ
Projects like this are not just quicker and more cost-effective to deploy. By using less electricity during peak hours, the site reduces the amount of electricity that must be generated and distributed. This makes it easier to avoid dirtier backup power sources. This strategy is therefore key to both electrifying transportation and keeping Washington on track to meet its 100% clean electricity commitment under the Clean Energy Transformation Act.
โClean & Prosperous Institute is proud to partner with local communities, innovators, and state leaders,โ said Paula Sardinas, board member of the Clean & Prosperous Institute. She emphasized their goal to โlaunch the first of hundreds of new, publicly available fast-charging ports across Washington.โ The Arlington EV fast-charging station, with its eight ports, is one of 136 sites and 634 ports funded by WAEVCPโs $101 million investment. Increasing fast charging, which can recharge an EV in 15 to 45 minutes, is essential for accelerating EV adoption. Ultimately, this saves drivers in fuel costs and reduces air pollution in near-highway communities.
