Page 14 - Electric News March April 2021

14 TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SOURCES
Evolution of Energy U
The Homestead Act of 1862 moved Americans westward. Settlers took a wide variety of farm wagons across the Great Plains to claim free land. Oxen were the most common draft animal for pulling covered wagons, although mules and horses were also used. A covered wagon traveled eight to twenty miles per day depending upon weather, prairie conditions and the health of travelers.
Chad Pinkelman, NPPD - Sustainable Strategies Consultant, holds his ChargePoint card over
the smart card symbol on the charging station to activate a charging session. “Eighty percent of electric vehicle charging is currently done
at home. Motorists today anticipate refueling stations everywhere they travel, regardless of fuel type, as merely the market standard in today’s world. Stations like the one installed at HNHP will allow electric vehicle motorists to travel without range anxiety,” said Chad.
In 1869, the Central Pacific line and the Union Pacific line joined to create the first transcontinental railroad. The coal-burning steam engines led to the replacement of covered wagons. Settlements grew quickly as rail transport increased the frequency and speed with which people and supplies could move across the vast continent.
In 1885, German mechanical engineer, Karl Benz designed and built the world’s first practical automobile to be powered by an internal combustion engine. In January 1886, Benz received the first patent for a gas-fueled car.
In 1896, William Morrison created the first effective electric vehicle in the United States. His car was little more than an electrified wagon, but it sparked an interest in electric vehicles. However, the need for longer travel rates, desire for a more affordable fuel source and lack of a reliable power infrastructure soon led to the dominance of the internal combustion engine vehicles.
Over a century later, a new set of concerns are driving a move away from internal combustion powered vehicles back to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles can be “powered up” while visiting Homestead National Historical
Park (HNHP) or while traveling on West State Highway 4 through Nebraska. A ChargePoint, two-port, charging station was energized at the HNHP Heritage Center on February 3, 2021. To bring an electric vehicle charging station to southeast Nebraska, several organizations collaboratively worked together. From the initiation to completion of the project, assistance came from The Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET), Nebraska Community Energy Alliance (NCEA), Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), Norris Public Power District (Norris) and Friends of Homestead National Historical Park (Friends).
NET receives forty-four and a half percent of proceeds from the Nebraska lottery. In 2020, NET received over $18 million dollars from lottery proceeds. Mark Brohman, NET Executive Director, said “Nebraska lottery proceeds fund projects that improve habitat, surface and groundwater, waste management and recycling, soil management and air quality. Electric vehicles produce zero direct emissions, which specifically helps improve air quality. HNHP is a good location for a charging station on Nebraska’s landscape. Visitors can go through the Heritage Center or walk on the nature
“The Friends of Homestead National Historical Park are very pleased to be able to facilitate having the charging station at Homestead National Historical Park. We feel it will be an important amenity to the park, now and in the future, and another feature to encourage visitors to stop and spend time exploring at the national park.”
~ Tammy Weers, Friends of Homestead National Historical Park - Treasurer
NORRIS ELECTRIC NEWS