Randolph EMC recently partnered with ChargePoint to install four electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. The chargers are among the first in North Carolina located at a major paid attraction that is served by an electric cooperative.

“Randolph EMC recognizes the importance of investing in EV charging infrastructure as a way to encourage environmental sustainability, commerce and tourism in the communities we serve,” said its CEO, Dale Lambert. “We had partnered with the zoo on other initiatives and knew that it would be an ideal fit for the implementation of EV technology to further these goals.”

Even with major interstates across the state, it’s impossible for vacationers to reach North Carolina’s mountains and beaches without passing through communities served by electric co-ops.

The new zoo charging stations are part of a larger network of charging stations North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are developing across the state that will not only support tourism and economic development, but also facilitate access to electric vehicle technologies in rural communities.