LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The city of Lincoln is installing 10 charging stations for electric cars as part of a grant program to encourage more residents to buy cars that use alternative fuels.

The dual-port stations will be purchased and installed with a more than $490,000 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for a statewide initiative to show that advanced technology vehicles reduce carbon-dioxide emissions and cost less than comparable gas-powered vehicles.

Lincoln will have 24 charging plug-ins available in public places around the downtown area. That will be enough charging stations to juice up about half of all electric cars in Lancaster County.

State Department of Motor Vehicles data shows the county had 50 electric-only cars last July. There were also more than 3,600 bi-fuel vehicles that could use the charging stations.