Report assesses feasibility of three new EV chargers in parks

DATE: July 2, 2024 TO: The Honorable Mayor and Members of the Village Council FROM: Yocelyn Galiano, ICMA-CM, Village Manager RE: EV Charger Report Following a request by Village Council on April 18, 2024, Village staff began work to put together a comprehensive report attempting to outline the current landscape for electric vehicle chargers and assess the feasibility of three new chargers to be placed in Pinecrest parks. This report will explain the challenges with becoming a more EV accessible municipality as well as the potential benefits and inevitability of the process. Background As it stands now, we currently have two chargers owned by the Village of Pinecrest for public use. One is located at Village Hall and can accommodate one electric vehicle at a time. The other is at Pinecrest Gardens and is capable of charging two electric vehicles at once. These chargers were provided to the Village by Blink. Their business model revolves around essentially leasing out these chargers to various public and private organizations in return for a percentage of the revenue generated from the chargers. Originally, the Village was offering free charging services, but now requires residents to pay at the charging station to receive service. Level 2 Chargers The first option to look at—as it is the most feasible and requires the least amount of preparation—is to continue with Blink and their “Hybrid Owned and Operated” business model for three more units for Evelyn Greer Park, Suniland Park, and Flagler Grove Park. These systems can take time as it may take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to charge a standard EV to 80% power [the optimal balance between charging speed and battery longevity]. The details of this business model are as follows: Blink Hybrid Model • Blink provides Level 2 unit at no cost • Blink sets charging rate • Host is reimbursed the cost of electricity • Operational cost deducted from gross revenue • NET revenue share up to 60/40 • 7-year agreement • Blink is responsible for maintenance • Host responsible for electrical infrastructure Blink will provide the equipment and will install it; however, it is still our responsibility to ensure the electrical infrastructure is in place at the time of installation. As such, Village staff reached out to electrical contractors for price estimates after electrical engineering services were rendered for the three parks in question. The quotes are listed below: Axcex Media Flagler Grove -- $24,969.46 Evelyn Greer -- $19,737.11 Suniland Park -- $20,540.11 Henry Rodriguez Flagler Grove -- $32,000.00 Evelyn Greer -- $23,488.00 Suniland Park -- $23,488.00 Level 3 Chargers Alternatively, there is also the option to look into Level 3 chargers, also known as ‘fast chargers.’ These systems can get the average EV to 80% power in about 20 to 30 minutes. Blink does not offer the same business model for these as they do for the Level 2 chargers. Including the cost of the equipment, network fees, protection plan, and freight, the total cost would come out to $178,595.00 for five ‘fast charging,’ dual-port units. An electric engineer would also need to be consulted to upgrade the existing systems before any electrical contractor can provide us with a quote for make-ready services. Host Programs EV charger host programs allow businesses or property owners to host electric vehicle charging stations on their premises, often with minimal upfront costs. These programs are typically offered by EV charging companies, which provide and maintain the equipment while the host benefits from attracting EV drivers, potentially increasing customer traffic and revenue. Village staff filled out several interest forms and reached out to companies such as Tesla and EVgo; however, it was made clear that there was little interest from these companies in partnering with the Village of Pinecrest at this time. As resources are limited and the partnerships are better served in areas with higher foot traffic. Respectfully submitted for your consideration. /yg