The City of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is installing 14 Blink Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers at four City facilities for public use, according to Murfreesboro Principal Planner Margaret Ann Ely.

Tennessee is one of nine states and the District of Columbia chosen to participate in the new initiative begun by ECOtality, which manufactures EV charging technology. It is supported by a Department of Energy (DOE) grant and sponsored by a host of companies that include Nissan of North America and Chevrolet. It is cosponsored locally by Murfreesboro Electric Department.

The Level 2 charging systems like those being planned citywide charge EVs in four to six hours utilizing 220-volt, direct current power, Ely explained. EV chargers are already available at several locations throughout the City.

Shannon Logan, service excellence coordinator for the City, said while the City fleet does not have any electric vehicles, the Murfreesboro Electric Department, which provides electricity to the Tennessee Valley, has a Nissan Leaf in service.