Grey County is planning to spend $200,000 to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers at various properties it owns.
At its meeting on Sept. 28, county council approved a staff report to proceed with a project to install 20 EV chargers at four of its properties. The report said the total project cost would be $200,000 and county staff plan to apply for a grant from the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program that would cover half the costs ($100,000) if awarded.
Although the county fleet does not currently include any electric vehicles, the county’s climate change plan calls for electrification of the county’s fleet in the future and the EV charging stations would be installed in anticipation of that process. The plan would be to install level-two EV chargers, which are used for SUVs, trucks and light vehicles.
“The installation of EV charging infrastructure is a necessary first step towards the future acquisition of light-duty electric vehicles for the county’s fleet,” said Rebecca Danard, the county’s climate change initiatives manager, in a report.
The plan is to install two chargers at the Ayton depot, and six chargers each at the Chatsworth depot, Clarksburg depot and the county’s administration office in Owen Sound.
The charges at the administration office would be open for the general public to use.
The staff report on the matter stated that the county will procure the chargers through an open bid process. The plan is to select a single company to source, install and maintain the chargers. As this is a pilot project staff recommended a “turn-key” approach.
Lower-tier municipalities will be given the option to “piggyback” on the county’s project should they be interested in installing their own EV chargers.
Council was fully supportive of the project. Owen Sound Deputy Mayor Scott Greig if the chargers would include an option for their usage to be metered, when in use by the general public.
“Electricity is not going to get cheaper,” said Greig.
Danard said that all EV chargers come with the option of metering and payment stations. She said that would be part of the bid process and would be a detail to be worked out as the project proceeds.
