Aurora is looking at installing electrical vehicle charging stations at the new Public Works building on the far East Side of the city.
Aldermen at this week’s Infrastructure and Technology Committee meeting recommended an agreement with Maryland-based Blink Network, LLC to install 10 EV charging stations at the new building, with the potential of more at other city buildings.
The cost of the stations to the city would be $68,396. At least half the overall cost of the project would be paid for through a ComEd grant program that would provide up to $8,000 for each station up to 10.
With the grant program available, Ian Wade, of the city’s Engineering Division, said officials thought it would be good to find “a consistent vendor” to develop a single, standardized charging network for the city, as well as a revenue collection system.
“The grant was the catalyst to get a vendor to take advantage,” Wade said.
The city would have four dual port charging stations at the front of the building, outside the fence, so both staff members and the public could take advantage of them. Because they are dual port, it would actually allow eight vehicles to charge at once.
There would be six more dual port installations for city use only at the facility.
Blink also would rough in 10 to 12 EV charging stations inside the fleet storage area, for a longer term use “when we can get large EVs,” Wade said.
“We’re looking ahead to the future,” he said.
Wade said city officials decided that rather than finding a charging “product off the shelf and installing it,” the city would go through the request for queries process. Blink was one of three vendors that responded.
“We wanted to select a vendor the right way, that we feel comfortable with going forward with the future,” he said.
He said while the city is getting a grant for the first 10 stations, ComEd will continue to make the program available until the money is used up. The city is looking at other programs that provide such grants, Wade said.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Ald. Brandon Tolliver, 7th Ward, a committee member. “I appreciate the proactiveness on this, especially for the potential of having the bigger vehicles, if that ever happens.”
slord@tribpub.com