South Carolina installs electric vehicle chargers at State Parks
December 14, 2022
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette unveiled a new program that will install electric vehicle chargers powered by 100% renewable energy at state parks across South Carolina. The program, supported by the electric vehicle maker and automotive technology company Rivian through its community charging initiative and the South Carolina Energy Office, comes about two months after Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order calling for an expansion of EV infrastructure.
“State Parks are some of the busiest destinations in our state and are located along high-use corridors,” Lt. Gov. Evette said. “It just makes sense to serve a growing market of electric vehicle users by making sure charging stations are accessible to them.”
Rivian has already installed two of its Waypoints chargers at Dreher Island last month. In addition to Dreher Island, Rivian’s Level 2 EV Waypoints chargers are available at Myrtle Beach and Huntington Beach state parks, and are planned for Charles Towne Landing and Devils Fork. Following these locations, Rivian is planning to install chargers at more than two dozen other state parks starting in 2023.
Rivian’s Waypoints chargers can add up to 25 miles of range for each hour they are plugged in to Rivian’s R1T and R1S, making them ideal for EV-driving park patrons visiting for the day or camping overnight. This collaborative effort extends the electric charging infrastructure grid to new areas for EV drivers to explore.
At Dreher Island, the chargers are located near picnic shelters #3 and #4.
South Carolina operates 47 state parks to preserve and protect some of the state’s best examples of natural, cultural and recreational resources from mountain wilderness and the state’s settlement site to major fishing lakes and Atlantic beaches. More at www.SouthCarolinaParks.com.
About the SC Energy Office
The Energy Office, a department within the SC Office of Regulatory Staff, advances South Carolina’s energy strategy and policy through education and outreach funded by the US Department of Energy’s State Energy Program. The Energy Office promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation through a broad range of initiatives. Additionally, the Energy Office houses the Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition (PCF), which is part of the US Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Coalition Network. This network is a grassroots, locally based, voluntary public/private partnership with the goal of promoting energy use in the transportation sector that is clean, safe, less dependent upon foreign sources, and sustainable.
