The summer season brings more traffic and that means a wider variety of cars on the North Fork — but not all that require gasoline as a fuel source.
Electric cars still make up a tiny percent of the market, but there were 740,000 on the road worldwide in 2014, 290,000 in the U.S. alone. That’s up from under a 100,000 in 2012, according to German research firm The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research.
So if you’re in the market for an e-ride, it’s probably a good idea to know where the local public charging stations are.
Here are five spots on the North Fork that offer charging stations for electric vehicles (or, you can also download the PlugShare ap):
1. Tanger Outlet Center
1947 Old Country Road, Riverhead
Janine Nebons, the general manager of Tanger, said 12 electric vehicle chargers were installed at the Riverhead outlet center last spring.
“The trend toward the manufacturer of electric vehicles is one that we have watched closely,” she said. “We felt it was the appropriate time to launch a service to accommodate those EV owners who may travel 40 miles or more to visit our shopping center.”
There are six stations in Tanger 1 across from shopper services (suite 200) and six in Tanger 2 in the parking lot between Cole Haan (Suite 906) and Nike (Suite 1520.)
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2. Bedell Cellars
36225 Main Road, Cutchogue
Bedell has one EV charging station located in front of the tasting room. Peter Gundersen, the operations manager at Bedell Cellars said the winery made the decision to install an electric vehicle charger two years ago.
“We saw a lot of customers had electric cars, like Teslas and BMWs, and we realized there was a use for it,” he said. “We actually decided to purchase electric cars for our company as well.”
3. Cliff’s Elbow Room
1549 Main Rd., Jamesport
Elbow Room manager and owner Cliff Saunders installed an electric vehicle charger at the Elbow Room in Jamesport in 2013, and another at Elbow Too in Laurel last year.
“A few years ago I began leasing an electric mini and they gave me the charger with it,” he said. “It’s there for everyone to use, and most people will come and charge their car as they have dinner.”
Note: Cliff’s Rendezvous in Riverhead does not have a charging station even though the PlugShare ap indicates that it does.
4. Cliff’s Elbow Too
1095 Franklinville Rd., Laurel
5. Lucas Ford
3245 Hortons Ln., Southold
Lucas Ford in Southold is the easternmost electric vehicle charger on the North Fork. There are two outlets available at the car dealership.
