On September 12, 2011, SemaConnect announced the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at three different locations. In Waldorf, the Hilton Garden Inn installed several charging stations as part of Maryland's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (EVIP). In Annapolis, the Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) installed charging stations at two of its business parks, one in Airport Square and one in the National Business Park.
SemaConnect's ChargePro EV charging stations are designed for commercial-grade applications and can be easily installed at residential or business parking areas. They are wirelessly connected to SemaConnect's SemaCharge Network which allows the operators of charging stations to monitor items like billing and demand, while letting consumers pay online and track their usage. Charging an electric vehicle costs the equivalent of a dollar per gallon -- which is less than a third of current gas prices, according to Malcolm Woolf, the Maryland Energy Administration Director. People who want to use a SemaConnect charging station will need to get a smart card from SemaConnect first.
Since 2003, COPT has been designing and constructing every new building to at least meet LEED Silver certification standards. It is also a member of the US Green Building Council and Businesses for the Bay, the latter being a team of companies that support conservation of the Chesapeake Bay.
The Hilton Garden Inn Waldorf is the first property both within the brand and the city of Waldorf to install EV charging stations. The Hilton Garden Inn Waldorf will soon become a Maryland Green Travel Partner, which means that it has met the Maryland Green Travel certification requirements, including recycling and waste reduction, conservation, and water efficiency.
The EVIP's goal is to develop a cleaner and more efficient transportation system in Maryland. To that end, they have been funding the installation of over sixty charging stations throughout the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The stations will cover counties from Charles to Frederick.
SemaConnect makes and installs EV charging stations and related software. The company is based in Annapolis. For more information about SemaConnect or its products call (410) 384-4223 or visit www.semaconnect.com.
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