Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon will continue its partnership with automaker Mitsubishi to create an infrastructure for electric cars. Governor Ted Kulongoski made that announcement today Monday.

Work will begin on electric car charging stations throughout the I-5 corridor under the new working agreement with Mitsubishi Motors North America. Some stations will be complete later this year.

Jillian Schoene, a spokesperson for the Governor, said the plan is forward-thinking.

Jillian Schoene: "The long-term goal is to provide the Oregon consumer the opportunity to purchase a zero-emissions vehicle and drive from Portland to Ashland and Seaside to Ontario emission free.

The eventual goal is to have more than 1,000 electric car charging stations throughout Oregon.

Much of the funding will come from the Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation. It received almost $100 million in federal funds to get more people behind the wheels of electric cars.

Oregon already has one of the highest rates of hybrid cars in the country.

Mitsubishi will introduce an electric car in the U.S. next year.