Dive Brief:
- Georgia Power has completed 11 new EV charging islands located across the state, and has plans to open 50 more by the end of next year.
- The announcement marks the completion of the first phase of planned charging infrastructure being developed by the company.
- The "islands" will allow drivers to charge using a DC fast charger for a $4.95 activation fee for the first 20 minutes of charging and 25 cents per each additional minute.
Dive Insight:
Georgia Power says it is committed to the development of electric vehicles, and is working on an infrastructure plan that will help advance the state as "friendly" to the emissions-free vehicles. In addition to the charging stations, the utility has unveiled dozens of plug-in electric hybrid vehicles as part of its statewide fleet, and offers EV charger rebates for business and residential customers alongside a special rate for EV customers.
The 11 new stations are located in cities including Atlanta, Athens and Savannah. In addition to the fast chargers, drivers can use Level 2 chargers that include a $1/hour fee for the first three hours and 10 cents for each additional minute.
The charging station rollout comes at a rocky time for the EV industry in Georgia. While the state had put incentives in place to help EV markets develop, the legislature repealed the $5,000 credit this summer and imposed a $200 registration fee for new EV owners. A $500 rebate from Georgia Power for business customers that install charging stations is still available, as is a reduced EV charging rate from the utility.
State incentives and charging infrastructure are two areas where advocates want to see more done. Globally, EV infrastructure is poised to grow. A study from IHS predicted electric vehicle charging stations around the globe will number almost 13 million by the end of 2020 — up from 1 million in 2014.
According to the IHS report, about 10% of EV charging stations will be public by 2020, although they will lean heavily towards less-expensive and slower AC charging technology.
Correction: The original version of this post stated that Georgia has a $5,000 state rebate for electric vehicles. That is incorrect. HB 170, which became effective July 1, 2015, repealed the state rebate program.
