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Waynesville, NC, just had six new Level 2 EV chargers installed that also provide free charging. “Everything we do is in line with the town’s goal to reach carbon neutrality or net zero emissions by the year 2050 and so electric vehicles are part of that, solar on the public works building with battery storage is part of resiliencey. Right, being able to create a command structure during a flood event. Putting these pieces in the community is not only a benefit to residents but also sends a message to anyone who lives here or visits here that we care about the environment and we care about cost reduction,” Hite said. The person quoted is the town’s environmental sustainability chairman, William Hite. Waynesville is about 25–30 miles from Asheville, NC.
The new chargers are located at the Waynesville Recreation Park tennis courts. The news source did not indicate the connector type, but the Google AI overview stated it is CCS1 or J1772. “Transportation is the biggest polluter in Western North Carolina,” said Waynesville Council Member Chuck Dickson. “About 95% of folks who switch to an electric vehicle never go back. I love mine, especially now with gas prices going up,” he added.
Remember when our super fantastic president said EV chargers cost a billion dollars? The new Level 2 chargers cost $700 a piece and were donated by William Hite. The town spent about $23,000 for the installation and is set to get $6,900 back from a federal tax credit. So, in total, the installation cost will be less than $20,000.
Level 2 chargers can provide about 30–40 miles of EV driving per hour of charging. For these particular chargers, it sounds like they will work well for people who visit the recreation center. They could go for a stroll or a jog, walk a dog, play tennis, go to the gym, go swimming, take a class, have a picnic, etc., and charge their EV at the same time at no cost.
For EV owners who have homes, about 80 percent of charging happens in the convenience of their own garages, but having destination chargers helps reassure EV drivers who might have some “range anxiety.”
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