This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Statistics provided by the city of Warsaw show the two electric vehicle charging stations established in 2023 are getting similar amounts of use and that that use in 2024 slowly climbed.
The stations are north of the courthouse and in the municipal parking lot near the Expressions Salon Day Spa.
The stations delivered just under 16,000 kWh, roughly the same between both stations with enough energy to drive about 50,000 miles, according to information provided by the city.
In 2023, there were 1,613 sessions, peaking in August at 185.
The service was used by 150 unique drivers. About 100 used the station at the Courthouse while 84 used the municipal lot.
The typical session length was 1.5 to 2 hours.
City planner Justin Taylor said the pilot program has been a “net positive” for downtown and supports the effort.
He said the slow rise is probably attributable to a combination of getting the word out about the service and the rise in the number of electric vehicles in the area.
“I think it makes sense with all the other efforts we’re doing to bring people downtown … to offer it as an amenity,” Taylor said.
The city service has relied on a grant from the national Volkswagon court settlement in which the carmaker was fined for manipulating mileage.
Under the program, the city has covered the cost of charging each vehicle for the first two hours per visit.
But that program is coming to an end and the city will have to decide how to handle the service in the future.
“As a community, we need to decide are we going to continue to offer that first two hours free or are we going to look at charging hourly from the beginning — what does that look like,” Taylor said.
Winona Lake plans to establish four charging stations in a new parking lot adjacent to the town hall parking lot by the end of the year.
Taylor applauded the move.
“That’s impressive that they’re doing that. I think that’s a great amenity for that park,” Taylor said.
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