Politics & Government

Electric Vehicle Charging Station is Up and Running

The region's newest charging station officially opened in West Hartford on Wednesday.

West Hartford town officials and representatives from Connecticut Light & Power and Northeast Utilities gathered in the municipal parking lot on Arapahoe Road Wednesday afternoon to cut the ribbon on West Hartford's new electric vehicle charging station.

A Chevy Volt was already parked in the spot, and after pulling the ribbon and uncovering the charging station, Mayor Scott Slifka had the honor of plugging in the car.

"This is easier than a gas pump!" said Slifka as he plugged the Volt into the charging station.

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The feasibility of plug-in car charging is currently being studied in the region. "This car is like that giant Motorola phone we once had ... this could be the future," said Einat Dorobantzu, CL&P Manager of Technology Integration.

The charging station is part of a electric vehicle research project being undertaken by CL&P, explained Watson Collins of Northeast Utilities, CL&P's parent company. Collins said the company originally hoped to receive a federal grant for the project, but decided to move forward anyway, even though the grant opportunity fell through.

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The study, Dorobantzu said, will determine whether or not people will use the charging station and how long they will keep their car plugged in. It will also help determine whether or not it makes sense to build a network of charging stations.

Dorobantzu explained that it take four hours to charge the Volt if the power is completely drained. Charging takes eight hours at home, because of the lower voltage.

The Volt will run for approximately 40 miles on a charge, but also has a gas tank which will allow the vehicle to operate for approximately 300 additional miles. The car automatically transitions to gasoline power once the electical charge is depleted. "If you ran out of charge on the highway, you wouldn't even know," Dorobantzu said.

Dorobantzu said that the Arapahoe lot was chosen for the first charging station because of its central location. "This is the best spot in town, it's where everyone comes and it's visible." She said that having an electric vehicle charging station will show West Hartford's commitment to sustainability and the future.

The two-year project is already in its second year, and in Connecticut there are already public charging stations in Torrington, Stamford, and Westport, as well as at some businesses. West Hartford will eventually get a charging station in one of the Blue Back Square garages, too.

There is no cost to use the charging station, although as of now regular parking meter charges will apply to vehicles parked in the space. The town may reconsider that in the future, officials said.

A bright yellow "Plug My Ride" sign identifies the space. Other types of electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, are also able to use the charging station. Dorobantzu said that there are currently more than 100 electric cars in the state.

"CL&P’s goal is to safely and reliably serve our customers, and we are researching ways to provide a clean, lower-cost transportation alternative to electric vehicle customers. EVs have important environmental and economic benefits for Connecticut, and our job is ensuring our electric distribution system is ready," said Dorobantzu in a prepared statement.

"We are at the other end of the plug; we supply the power," said Dorobantzu.

Slifka confirmed West Hartford's commitment to conservation and sustainability, and said that it is the town's "responsibility to be good stewards of those resources for the future."

A release issued by Public Relations Specialist Renée McCue indicated the following ways in which West Hartford is already exercising energy conservation: "West Hartford continues to have one of the highest residential clean-energy sign-up rates in the state, allowing the Town to earn 'points' towards free solar PV systems. West Hartford has an active Clean Energy Task Force and a part-time Energy Specialist. All of our schools participate in an annual Energy Conservation Challenge to see which can save the most electricity and win the trophy. West Hartford is also a regional leader in curbside recycling."

To learn more about CL&P’s project, please visit www.cl-p.com/ev/.


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