PSEG has opened the largest electric vehicle (EV) charging facility in New Jersey with 13 electric charging stations in its headquarter garage. Eleven of the spots are designated for employees’ use and two spots are used for company electric cars.

This week also marks the start of the PSEG Employee Electric Car Incentive Program at three company locations: PSEG Headquarters in Newark, the PSEG Edison Training Center and the PSEG Energy and Environment Resource Center in Salem New Jersey. Participants in the program have access to no-cost charging through July 2016 and in Newark, have access to no cost parking through July 2016.

“This is a great example of ‘if you build it they will come.’ In just a few weeks since this program was announced, we have had nine people sign up for the program – and most of them have gone out and bought an electric car because of the program,” said Randy Mehrberg, executive vice-president of strategy, PSEG.

All participants agree to complete regular surveys about their electric car experience. The first was on motivations for purchasing an electric car. Reasons listed included helping the environment, liking to be on the cutting edge of technology or saving money on gas or parking. Cars bought by initial participants included Chevy Volts, Honda Fit, Nissan Leaf, plug-in Toyota Priuses and a plug-in Ford Fusion.

“PSEG has been a leader in reducing pollution from our power plants but that will not be enough,” said Ralph Izzo, chairman, president and CEO of PSEG. “It is important that we also make efforts to reduce emission from transportation – be it from electrifying our ports or increasing the use of electric cars. I am proud that our employees – as is so often the case – are leading the way.”