The Tesla pulls silently into the driveway and sidles next to the charging station. With the ease of charging a cell phone, the car is plugged in and its owners make their way into The Wild Center. The Center’s new charging station is a first step to making the Tri-Lakes region of the Adirondacks (Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid) electric-car friendly.

In addition to plug-in stations already up and running in Canton, Potsdam, Plattsburgh, and Lake George, this electric charging station will provide a battery charge for those visiting the heart of the Adirondacks.

Every major car maker is producing or has plans for electric vehicles, some of which can get the equivalent of 119 miles per gallon and have an annual fuel cost of $500. Federal tax credits are currently available for electric vehicles.

“The Wild Center charging station is the first public charger that we are aware of in the interior of the Adirondack Park,” said Lou Klepner, the first driver to plug-in. “As we see it the electric vehicle charger at The Wild Center significantly expands the accessibility of the Adirondack Park to electric vehicles. Up to this point the Adirondack Park had been completely barren of public electric chargers – other than a few options directly adjacent Lake George. With the Wild Center charger in place electric vehicle drivers with a 250+ mile range, such as most Tesla Model S owners, now have a charging option for road trips throughout the Adirondack Park.”

According to the Electric Drive Transportation Association, there are currently 19 plug-in and fuel cell models of vehicles available with 17 additional models expected through 2016.

Over 211,000 plug-in vehicles are currently on the road, with sales up 35% this year compared to the same period last year.