Tehachapi has opened a new electric vehicle charging station next to city hall on South Robinson Street, launching a pilot program in the city.

City Manager Greg Garrett said they’re trying to figure out if people will use the free facility – and, so far, early returns have been positive.

“The charging station is adjacent to my office here at city hall, ” he said. “I’m looking out my window right now, and there’s a Nissan Leaf hooked up.”

He also said there’s an economic development component.

“It’s right downtown,” he said. “So, you can come to Tehachapi, you can recharge, you can take a stroll through historic downtown, and you can go shopping in our boutiques,” he said.

It’s the first station along the Highway 58 corridor from Bakersfield to Mojave that doesn’t require a special charging cable.

– Anthony Pollreisz