For the Reporter

The Port of Seattle recently opened 36 new electric vehicle charging stations in Sea-Tac’s main terminal garage to become the largest provider of any North American airport.

The charging stations, compatible with most electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, are free to visitors who pay to park in the garage. Combined with Sea-Tac’s 12 existing charging stations, installed over the past two years, the airport now offers 48 spaces on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Our electric charging stations have been consistently full and we anticipate the future demand to continue to grow,” said Elizabeth Leavitt, director of aviation planning and environmental management at Sea-Tac Airport. “Living in a region where residents clearly value the environment, we strive to provide services that help our customers meet their goals to reduce their carbon footprints.”

There are an estimated 165,000 electric vehicles on the road in the U.S., and Washington state has the second most registered electric vehicle users after California. On an average day, more than 5,000 vehicles park in Sea-Tac’s garage. The electric vehicle stalls are equipped with Level 1 charging (110 volt standard outlet). The stations can fully charge most plug-in electric vehicles in 10-12 hours.

Twelve stations are located on the fourth floor (in Terminal Direct) and 36 stations are on the fifth floor (in General Parking). Signage in the garage directs customers to individual parking stalls marked “Electric Car Charging.” Twelve parking spaces are located on the fourth floor in Row I. On the fifth floor, 12 spots are located in each row at D, G, and I.