Seattle City Light plans to install car chargers in hundreds of homes

PORTLAND, Ore. — A program rolling out next year will install electric car chargers in Seattle homes and parts of the city.

The Seattle Times reports Seattle City Light discussed the plan during a Portland conference attended by almost 400 electric car industry leaders.

The utility will put chargers in several hundred homes and install 20 in the city that can power some vehicles in 30 minutes.

Electric cars and plug-in hybrids accounted for about 1 percent of the country's auto sales as of June. Experts say annual sales could reach 15 percent by 2025.

A study found $300 million in electricity sales was possible if a quarter of vehicles on the road were electric by 2035.

Seattle City Light energy planning supervisor Brendan O'Donnell said the utility can handle that demand.