Oregon Installs Electric Charging Stations At 7 State Parks 

Oregon’s state parks are making it easier for drivers of electric vehicles to visit the state’s more remote corners. 

The agency on Friday unveiled high-speed charging stations at seven state parks in central and western Oregon, including at Silver Falls State Park east of Salem. 

“You can drive up, spend three or four hours at a park and get your miles back,” said Chris Havel with Oregon State Parks. He added that over time, the chargers will allow visitors with electric vehicles to travel with ease beyond parks nearest to the state’s urban centers. 

Locations for the electric vehicle charging stations at Oregon state parks 

The chargers, from electric vehicle maker Rivian, are compatible with all electric vehicles and powered by 100% renewable energy, a news release said, via the company’s energy matching program. Rivian, working through the nonprofit Adopt A Charger, donated the installation design, construction costs and EV chargers placed in the parks, the news release said. 

The charging stations will be free to use for the first few years, according to the release, because of donations from plastics manufacturer Entec Polymers. 

“Initially, donations from Entec are covering charging, but when that donation runs out, the users will have to pay for the electricity they use,” Oregon Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Jo Niehaus said. “We’ve estimated that the donated amount will cover at least up to 2025.”