Chattanooga State Community College offers electric vehicle charging stations.
Charging stations for electric vehicles are sprouting up across the region, but good luck finding a car plugged into one.
Stacking split-oak logs behind the Cracker Barrel restaurant in East Ridge, Tim Davis said he’s never seen a car charging on one of the Blink brand charging stations the chain is installing.
“I see people pull up to them all the time, but I’ve never seen anybody plug up,” Davis said. “It’d be a heck of a thing to roll up there dead, needing a charge, and somebody’s parked there.”
Charging stations aren’t new to Chattanooga, but their numbers are growing.
Tennessee Department of Revenue officials estimate that at least 530 electric vehicles have been registered in Tennessee in the past two years, based on the number of buyers seeking a tax rebate. Spokesman Billy Trout said the department has issued about $1.35 million in rebates so far.