Quinn plugs electric cars

Saving the planet and gas money is prompting the state to move toward electric vehicles.

The government is encouraging electric vehicle manufacturers to bid for state contracts, Gov. Pat Quinn said during an Earth Day Transportation Summit Tuesday that included Metra, the CTA, Pace and Illinois tollway officials.

“Obviously the price of gas is driving us all to be more conservative-minded,” Quinn said.

One likely destination for the vehicles would be on state university campuses, he noted.

In the meantime, the state is working to install charging stations for electric vehicles in the region. About 280 charging stations will be situated in the Chicago metropolitan area. Expected locations are grocery stores, Midway and O’Hare International Airports and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority oases, Quinn said.

The stations would be paid through a combination of state and federal funds.