Statewide supporters of sustainability are offering the city of Delaware its first public electric vehicle charging stations.
The two charging stations could be placed in two parking spaces in the city’s parking lot on William Street, it was proposed during a Delaware City Council meeting on Monday.
The proposal came during a presentation by Cari Oberfield of Renergy Inc., Jimmy Smith of Ohio EV Solutions and Matt Stephens-Rich of Clean Ohio Fuels. A similar presentation was made in May to the city’s Parking and Safety Committee.
A station, which is small enough to be placed on a desk, is used to charge the batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles. The stations are commonplace in California, and are becoming more common nationwide as more of the vehicles hit the road.
According to data by Clean Fuels Ohio, more than 250,000 electric vehicles are expected to be owned in the Columbus and Cleveland areas by 2030, with 125,000 charging stations installed in homes. Those totals would generate a demand for more than 50,000 non-residential charging stations.
“Ohio is a healthy market for electric vehicles,” Stephens-Rich said.
The speakers cited the community benefits of hosting a charging station, including reducing energy dependence on imported petroleum, reducing carbon emissions, promoting environmental and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification goals, and attracting new visitors.
“It’s a great way to show you’re progressive,” Oberfield said to council members.
“Charging will put you on the electric vehicle map,” Smith said.
“A majority of cities don’t charge to top off the battery,” Stephens-Rich said.
Renergy is offering to install and operate the stations at no cost to the city or consumers. However, the city will go through a request for proposal process to determine who will provide the stations.
Council member Chris Jones said if the city got behind the initiative, more charging stations could be placed in Delaware.
“I can’t think of a better community to support it,” Jones said. “This fits a perfect synergy of what we’re trying to do.”
