The days of 30-cents-per-gallon gasoline are long gone, but new electric vehicles can run on the equivalent of that in areas of the country where power rates are low. North central Washington State, with its cheap hydropower and emerging wind and solar projects, has become a hub for efforts to promote plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. Five years ago, the Port of Chelan based in Wenatchee, Washington, helped establish the Advanced Vehicle Innovations Consortium with the ­following goals: Decrease cost of public and private transportation within the region Insulate the local economy from unstable fuel prices by increasing energy dependence […]