Charging stations along I-5 in Wash. due this year

Buell said the number of electric vehicles in the state is growing, with about 300,000 predicted in the next decade.

Rik Katz, a Seattle school teacher, said he's looking forward to taking his newly purchased Nissan Leaf everywhere, including on a future trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, about 120 miles north of Seattle. "The big thing is you have to plan a little bit more," said the 51-year-old, who was confident he would be able to charge up his new sedan.

Peter Moulton, who lives in Olympia and works as the state's bioenergy coordinator, said his Nissan Leaf gets about 80 miles at freeway speeds.

"I can get to Seattle and get where I'm going without too much range anxiety, but I better be going someplace that has a charger," he said.

AP writer Gene Johnson contributed.