Electric vehicle owners are now able to charge their vehicles in the parking garage of the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus. Six electric vehicle charging stations are located on the green level of the Ohio Statehouse Underground Parking Garage in downtown Columbus and are available to the public.

Based on initial staff research, the Ohio Statehouse is the first statehouse in the continental United States to be equipped to provide electric vehicle charging stations to the public. The electric vehicle charging stations were made possible through a grant from Clean Fuels Ohio and the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as contributions from Honda of America, General Motors, the Eaton Corporation and Professional Supply, Inc. No state funds were used to install the Ohio Statehouse electric car charging stations. The total cost of the project was $35,770.

The charging stations, manufactured by the Eaton Corporation, are designed for public use and have a modern look and resemble normal gas pumps. Once the vehicle is plugged in, it begins to charge immediately. At 240 volts, the stations are more powerful than a home power outlet. The charging stations are able to take a typical electric car battery from zero to full in six to eight hours. Users of the charging stations will pay 50 cents per hour for the electricity they draw.