Upgrades to Oregon's West Coast Electric Highway start this October

Oregonians will soon have more charging choices on Oregon’s portion of the West Coast Electric Highway.

EV Charging Solutions, who operate Oregon’s portion of the WCEH, will upgrade all 44 of the highway’s charging stations, and add three new ones to the network. The upgrades will add more charger types and upgrade existing ones to serve a wider range of electric vehicles. More than 100 charging ports will be upgraded or added.

The work starts in October this year, and should be complete by 2023. 

EV Charging Solutions plans to:

• Replace the existing CHAdeMO-only DC fast chargers with new DC fast chargers that have both CCS-combo and CHAdeMO charging capability.
• Install a new 120 volt outlet for electric bikes and scooters.
• Replace the existing Level 2 AC chargers.
• Add a CHAdeMO adaptor for Tesla drivers.

Eleven of the 47 stations will be “superstations” with three DC fast chargers, and one Level 2 AC charger.

Funding for the upgrades comes from a mix of state and federal funds secured by ODOT. Upgrades to the WCEH are part of the agency’s commitment to electrify Oregon’s transportation system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. It’s one of ten outcomes in the agency’s new Strategic Action Plan. 

Send questions or comments about our work to Climate.Office@odot.state.or.us. For media inquiries, contact Matt Noble, ODOT Communications: matt.a.noble@odot.state.or.us.

-ODOT Climate Office