SPRINGFIELD -- With its rounded top and the two crescent-shaped handles at its side, the electric vehicle charging station on display Wednesday bears an odd resemblance to an old-fashioned gas pump.

But the charger, which will be installed permanently in the Union Station parking garage in the next few weeks, is more the future than the past, said Jim Hunt, Eversource senior vice president and chief communications officer.

Hunt hosted a news conference with Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, who pointed to the charger's retro look, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and others.

Over the next five years, Eversource will spent $45 million to install more than 400 charging sites across Massachusetts as part of its Grid Modernization plan.

Hunt said Eversource has made great progress in switching from dirty coal to cleaner fuels like natural gas, offshore wind, hydroelectricity and solar power.

But 40 percent of the state's greenhouse gas emissions come in the transportation sector, Hunt said.

"The trick is getting those clean fuels into the cars," Hunt said.

Eversource and private providers including Tesla already have chargers throughout the region. The Springfield Parking Authority has six of them in its garages. Big Y has them at some locations.

But Hunt said working with customers to add chargers means they aren't always in the best, high-traffic locations. This $45 million program, approved by the state last year, will be targeted.

He said it'll let electric car owners know they can always recharge.

"Range anxiety is a real limiting factor," Hunt said, referring to the fear of being stuck someplace without a charging station to get home.

He said a four-hour charge will boost most electric car batteries to 80 percent of their capacity.

Electric cars on the market today can travel anywhere from about 60 miles to more than 300 miles for top-end Tesla models on a fully charged battery. Ranges are increasing for more readily available electric cars such as the Chevrolet Bolt (238 miles) and Nissan Leaf (151 miles).

Many hybrid electric cars have gas engines that see limited use but can be engaged to recharge when a charging station is not available.

Neal said Eversource shows its commitment to clean energy with solar power projects like those in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield.

"Science is directing the path on climate change," he said.

He also talked about how federal tax credits make a lot of clean energy projects possible. And political support for wind in particular is driven by geography, with conservative House members and senators from wind-rich places like Texas and Oklahoma joining more liberal coastal politicians with offshore projects.

Hunt said some stations are pay-as-you go, either with a credit card or a membership plan. Many parking areas or businesses offer the charges for free as an enticement to business.

Christopher J. Moskal, executive director of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, which owns and manages Union Station, said the Union Station charger will be free.

Union Station already has giant overhead chargers for Pioneer Valley Transit Authority electric buses.