It's unlikely that Bobby Troup had this in mind when he penned (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 in 1946, but the Mother Road is being suggested by at least one automotive group as key to a transcontinental electric highway. The Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation (HEVF) says it supports the idea of making Route 66 the "core" of a network of electric-vehicle chargers, but few details are emerging as far as the number of stations and who would pay for them. Those details could be worked out at the Route 66 International Festival that will take place in Kingman, AZ in August. The festival theme is "Crossroads of the Past and Future," so charging up Route 66 fits it nicely.
The effort dovetails with HEVF's goal to build what it says will be the first International Electric Vehicle Museum. That facility will house a 1930 Detroit Electric, a 1960 Electric Shopper and a 1961 Trident, among other vehicles.
Route 66 was officially in operation between Chicago and Santa Monica, CA, between 1926 and 1985, before being usurped by the US interstate system, though portions of the Mother Road are still used for historic and nostalgia purposes. It's a beautiful stretch of road, in parts, and would be excellent to tour in an EV. Meanwhile Oregon and Washington State continue to work on their own electric superhighway, pushing for quick chargers every 25 to 50 miles along Interstate 5 in the Pacific Northwest. And Tesla Motors is taking a more private approach, having built out a network of 73 high-powered Supercharger stations that Model S owners can use for free. Meanwhile, take a look at the HEVF's press release below.
The effort dovetails with HEVF's goal to build what it says will be the first International Electric Vehicle Museum. That facility will house a 1930 Detroit Electric, a 1960 Electric Shopper and a 1961 Trident, among other vehicles.
Route 66 was officially in operation between Chicago and Santa Monica, CA, between 1926 and 1985, before being usurped by the US interstate system, though portions of the Mother Road are still used for historic and nostalgia purposes. It's a beautiful stretch of road, in parts, and would be excellent to tour in an EV. Meanwhile Oregon and Washington State continue to work on their own electric superhighway, pushing for quick chargers every 25 to 50 miles along Interstate 5 in the Pacific Northwest. And Tesla Motors is taking a more private approach, having built out a network of 73 high-powered Supercharger stations that Model S owners can use for free. Meanwhile, take a look at the HEVF's press release below.
Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation to Support Route 66 Festival
Carlsborg, WA – Janurary 28th, 2014 – The Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation, HEVF, has been invited to participate in the Route 66 International Festival, http://kingman66fest.com in Kingman, Arizona on August 14th through the 17th. After reviewing the information on the festival the HEVF Board of Directors voted unanimously to not only attend, but to support the concept of using Route 66 as the core of America's First National Electric Highway. According to Roderick Wilde, Executive Director of HEVF, it was the theme that got their attention, "Crossroads of the Past and Future" but it was the conferences and exhibits that clinched the deal. The conferences include:
Carlsborg, WA – Janurary 28th, 2014 – The Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation, HEVF, has been invited to participate in the Route 66 International Festival, http://kingman66fest.com in Kingman, Arizona on August 14th through the 17th. After reviewing the information on the festival the HEVF Board of Directors voted unanimously to not only attend, but to support the concept of using Route 66 as the core of America's First National Electric Highway. According to Roderick Wilde, Executive Director of HEVF, it was the theme that got their attention, "Crossroads of the Past and Future" but it was the conferences and exhibits that clinched the deal. The conferences include:
- Project to Transform ROUTE 66 into America's First Electric Highway
- Presentation about the installation of charging stations along the Mother Road
- History of Electric and Alternative Energy Vehicles in America
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue