First All-Electric Gas Station Opens: It’s Not Where You’d Expect It To Be

While many would expect the first all-electric gas station to open in California, based on its more stringent emission requirements, this wasn’t the debut location as Maryland took the honors and saw the station open to EV charging on Thursday.

The RS Automotives station in Takoma Park, Maryland, opened its doors after a total overhaul that now has it selling electricity instead of gasoline. The station, which initially opened in 1958, made the move to all-electric after disappointing contract terms with gasoline suppliers, owner Depeswar Doley told CNBC.

Doley reportedly worked with the Electric Vehicle Institute to make the transition happen, and he isn’t worried how the change will cut into his bottom line.

“You notice there are not too many electric vehicles on the road,” he told the news outlet. “So it’s not something that I expect to become rich overnight or something like that, but it’s a good cause [and] good for the environment.”

Doley was provided with a $786,000 grant from the Electric Vehicle Institute and the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to convert the gas station, that will have four dispensers to charge electric vehicles through a 200-kW system that can provide an 80 percent battery charge in 20 to 30 minutes, according to MEA.

Maryland is home to more than 20,700 registered electric vehicles as well as an electric taxi service, according to CNBC.