DTE Project Lets EVs Plug In At Metro

ROMULUS (WWJ) - DTE Energy announced Wednesday that it is installing four free plug-in electric vehicle charging stations at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Two of the charging stations will be installed on the eighth floor of the McNamara Terminal parking deck, and two will be installed on the fourth floor of the Big Blue Deck adjacent to the airport's North Terminal.

"This is another step we're taking to ease the transition to PEV ownership, as well as meet the demand for infrastructure by current PEV owners," said Trevor Lauer, DTE Energy vice president for marketing and renewables. "A key factor in the widespread success of electric vehicles will be the ability of utilities to supply 'fuel' on demand at a reasonable cost."

Lauer said airport visitors could simply park their PEV, plug it in, and take off on their flight. "That way the vehicle will be fully charged when they get back from their trip," Lauer said.

Besides the four PEV charging stations at the airport, DTE Energy will also install two charging stations each in public parking areas in Ferndale, Mount Clemens, Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills, and one in Saline. Also, two charging stations will be installed at the Village of Rochester Hills retail center and another at Automation Alley's headquarters in Troy.

DTE Energy is working on General Motors on the project through a United States Department of Energy grant to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles across the country by deploying vehicles and installing charging infrastructure.

Genelle Allen, interim CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority, noted that the assembly line for the Chevrolet Volt is "just 20 miles down the road" from the airport, and that "we want our customers to know that we'll soon be ready to accommodate alternative-powered vehicles when they're parked at Detroit Metro Airport."

DTE is also offering special electric rates and up to $2,500 for the purchase and installation of a 240-volt residential charging station for faster charging. Nearly 100 DTE customers have participated in the program so far.

More at www.dteenergy.com.