In a pilot program, the $562 million National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union in Rockville, Md., is providing support for the installation of charging spaces for NIH employees who drive electric vehicles to work.

The 44,000-memberr NIHFCU is underwriting a total of six electric vehicle charging stations at three NIH parking garages at NIH headquarters in Bethesda, Md., and said the NIH parking staff is supporting the stations.

They're free to commuters for the duration of the pilot program, which NIHFCU said it expects to end this year. The credit union said owners of vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf already are using the spaces.

NIHFCU said the NIH plans to open charging stations at more locations around the Bethesda campus and have commuters pay for the energy they need to recharge their cars.

“By helping to provide NIH commuters with a convenient means of charging their electric cars during the day, the credit union is pleased to give back to healthcare and biomedical professionals by simplifying their busy lives while improving energy conservation,” said Juli Anne Callis, NIHFCU president/CEO.