b'PASSENGER TRANSPORTPDX39More fuel was added to the brewing electrical firestorm in late 2022, when Oregons Environmental Quality Commission passed laws similar to those in California. The recent legislation requires all light-duty vehicles purchased in Oregon after 2035 to be electric or hybrid. To be sure, a clock was ticking at PDX.At that point, we realized our (infrastructure) wouldnt be sufficient going forward, Hartley says.The airport assembled a team to rectify the problem. It quickly identified available electrical circuits to support Level 2 chargers in the ready return area. But the most acute needand a most fortuitous opportunityresided within the quick turnaround area. Thats where there were 1,600 untapped amps of electrical connectivity left over from abandoned plans to install high-pressure air blowers for drying rental vehicles as they exited the automated car washes. The existing electric service offered enough energy to power 10 fast chargers, each with two cable connections.Upon completion of charging the first vehicle, the system automatically starts charging the second vehicle that is Keep Portland Wiredin its public garages, but there initiallyplugged in, Harley explains.PDX is home to a mix of nearly 20 U.S.wasnt a cohesive program for chargingToday, electric rentals returned by and foreign flag air carriers that collectivelyinfrastructure, including within the rentalcustomers are wired up to any of the 20 served more than 17.5 million passengerscar facilities. Ideas were considered, butstations for as long as needed. Some last year, up 6.3% over 2023. Its ownedvalue engineering generally prevailed whencan charge from 0% to 70% battery and operated by the Port of Portland, whichthe airport was adding new infrastructurecapacity in as little as 40 minutes. When also runs three active marine terminals andbecause rental car companies had notnew customers need the vehicles, theyre the nearby Hillsboro and Troutdale airportsshown a significant commitment to usingwashed, vacuumed and driven from the that cater to general aviation, corporate andelectric vehicles.quick turnaround center to the ready flight training clientele.That mindset flipped shortly after PDXreturn building, where attendants briefly True to its multimodal nature, the Portopened its consolidated rental car center.reconnect them to slower Level 2 chargers recognizes the importance of choicesIn October 2021, Hertz announced plansto top off their power supplies. for accessing its flagship airport. Whileto purchase 100,000 new electric Teslas.The combination of those two charging the municipally operated MAX Red LineHartley learned that PDX would receiveoptions makes us most efficient, Hartley provides light rail servicebetween PDX and300 of them over the next six months. explains.cities of Portland, Beaverton and Hillsboro,Avis, another rental mainstay, wasTom Kennedy, the airport also heavily relies on 11 carsimultaneously preparing to boostpresident of SIXT rental brands housed within a combinedits electric fleetwithout any onsiteNorth America, public parking garage and consolidatedcharging options in place for PDXscommends the airport rental car center that opened in 2021. Anrental car providers. An off-airport Teslafor its commitment adjacent common-use quick turnaroundSupercharger location nearby soonto sustainability and area for cleaning, maintaining and refuelingbecame the de facto electric powerinvestment in green rental cars came online in 2018. provider for both rental companies.infrastructure. SIXTTOM KENNEDY For years, PDX has offered Level 1Youd see them taking cars over thereis one of three brands currently using and Level 2 electric vehicle chargersevery morning, Hartley recalls. the fast chargers at PDX, and Kennedy AirportImprovement.comJuly | August 2025'