Electric and hybrid-electric vehicles like the Toyota Prius are a much more common sight on local roads than they were just a few years ago, and with their popularity has come increasing demand for more EV (electric vehicle) charging stations in the Lehigh Valley.
As an EV owner, James Rosenberger of Lower Saucon Township told Hellertown Borough Council members Monday that he is also an advocate for expanding the local EV infrastructure to include charging stations in communities such as Saucon Valley.
“Installing electric vehicle charging stations can enhance Hellertown’s economy,” Rosenberger told council. He said consumers and EV owners like him typically choose their destinations based on the availability of charging stations, which puts him in Allentown and Bethlehem more than it does Hellertown.
An example of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station.
Another place Rosenberger said he frequents is the Whole Foods store in Lower Macungie Township, because it offers its customers the use of EV charging stations.
During a typical visit, Rosenberger said he spends more money on lunch than the supermarket does on the electricity that flows into his vehicle from the charging station.
When he charges his car at home the cost adds up to pennies per hour, and grant money is available to help pay for the installation of the charging stations, council heard.
He added that it’s possible that local businesses could sponsor the charging stations, and said the business owners he’s spoken to in Hellertown support the idea of installing them.
Rosenberger said the Chargepoint stations would be universally accepted by electric vehicles, including Teslas, which are equipped with a proprietary charging system that is not universally accepted the other way around.
From a safety standpoint, he said it is not possible to drive off with a vehicle still attached to a charging station, since EVs are designed in a way that makes that impossible. He added that there are also ways to prevent people from monopolizing the charging stations for personal use, although he said it’s not typical for vehicles to be left at them 24/7.
“People are going to be drawn to these charging stations,” Rosenberger told council. “We are almost at a cost parity (with non-EV vehicle ownership), and once we reach that the rates of EV ownership are rapidly going to take off.”
Council members appeared interested in the concept of adding EV charging stations somewhere in the borough, with Rosenberger suggesting that they could be installed on the street near the Detwiller Plaza fountain or in one of several public parks around town.
“I think everybody thinks this is a great idea,” borough manager Cathy Hartranft told him.
Rosenberger suggested reaching out to the Bethlehem Parking Authority for more information, since they already own EV charging stations, which are maintained at no cost to the city by Chargepoint.
Council voted 7-0 to have staff research the idea further and report back with its findings.
The next Hellertown Borough Council meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at Hellertown Borough Hall, 685 Main St., Hellertown. Meetings are open to the public and draft meeting agendas are posted online beforehand at HellertownBorough.org.
