Electric Vehicles

Why Choose an Electric Vehicle?

All vehicles that use gasoline, otherwise known as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, add greenhouse gases into our environment and ultimately contribute to climate change. The good news is that there are alternative ways to get around town that will lesson your greenhouse gas emissions and in some cases provide physical exercise.  

If you are in the market for a new car, consider an electric vehicle (EV). These vehicles run on batteries, do not use or burn gas and oil, and require far less maintenance--think no more oil changes!  Please also note that there are both federal and state rebates available when purchasing an EV and we suggest you look into those as well. There are so many options these days and charging stations are popping up everywhere, creating a thorough network of infrastructure.

KC

Charging Stations

There are plenty of online resources for finding charging stations and apps for your phone.   Check out the Environmental Protection Agency's comprehensive map of electric charging stations all over the United States.

As of 2021, the City has also added public charging stations at both Kenhill Center and City Hall through a partnership with BGE. Think of these as "gas stations" for your EV when you visit either location or when you need a charge. You may pay via Greenlots App or credit card on the charger. Video forthcoming. 

Below is a map of the publicly available electric vehicle charging stations within the City of Bowie. Feel free to navigate on the map itself and click on any of the points for more information about that station. Please note, the City of Bowie does not own or maintain any of these chargers although some may be located on City property. The others belong to their associated commercial or business owners. For more information about them, please reach out to the individual charging station owner. 

Below is a short description of the three different types of electric vehicle chargers. 

Charger Level
Description
1 Level 1 chargers refer to the 120-volt portable charger that comes with all electric vehicles. These chargers can be plugged into the standard household outlet and charge at a rate of 3-5 miles of range per hour. These chargers are often adequate for hybrid vehicles as their battery is smaller, however a separate level 2 charger is recommended for fully electric vehicles. 
2 Level 2 chargers are sold separately from electric vehicles and are more complicated to setup because they require a 240-volt electrical source. However, this increased voltage allows for faster charging. Level 2 chargers can charge vehicles at a rate of about 12-80 miles of range per hour depending on the amp rating. These can be installed at home, at the workplace, or in public. 
3 Level 3, or DC Fast Charging, is the fastest charger on the market. It can charge at a rate of 3-20 miles of range per minute. The voltage used for these chargers is much higher than levels 1 and 2 which is why these are only found in public settings. 

Green Fleet

The City of Bowie is proud to host an energy efficient fleet of City vehicles which includes a Nissan Leaf, three Chevy Bolts, two electric motorcycles, and four hybrid vehicles. This is another leap towards achieving an entire green fleet and minimizing the carbon footprint of City operations.

electric car3 zero emissions