The Washington State Department of Transportation, along with electric vehicle (EV) charging station partner AeroVironment, has opened 10 new public charging stations along the West Coast Electric Highway.

The 10 new stations - seven along Interstate 5 and three along U.S. Route 2 in northern Washington - will enable EV drivers to travel emissions-free from Seattle to the Canadian border, according to AeroVironment. Eight of the new stations feature "DC fast chargers," which the company says deliver a full charge for a nearly depleted EV battery in less than 30 minutes.

"Today moves us a giant step closer to the day when we can drive our electric cars from Bellingham, Wash., to San Diego, Calif., along Interstate 5, secure in the knowledge we can quickly recharge our vehicles along the way," says Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The West Coast Electric Highway, inaugurated in Oregon in March, represents an ongoing multistate initiative to install EV charging stations along the coast from Canada to Mexico.