COLUMBIA (WACH) -- A new electric vehicle charging network is getting the green light. Several local and state representatives as well as business stakeholders were in Columbia on Wednesday to officially plug in the network’s first car.

There were several plug-in vehicles on hand at the statehouse for the event, including cars from Mitsubishi, Toyota, IC Bus, Proterra, Tesla, Zero Motorcycles, and Tomberlin.

Plug-in vehicles operate on electricity a feature proponents says offers environmental, economic, and national security benefits.

“When you drive these cars in electric mode, no money is going to the Middle East. No money is going to Russia. No money is going to Venezuela," says James Poch Executive Director of Plug-In Carolina.

Several electric plug-in stations will be established throughout the Palmetto State to charge the new electric cars that auto companies are making.

The town of Blythewood is the first in the Midlands and the east coast to have installed a charging station for new electric vehicles.

(taken from MidlandsConnect.com)