Hendersonville EV charging stations projected to see 18% more use in 2025, still free
In 2023, the city's charging stations put out 6,480 kilowatt-hours, Hendersonville Public Works Superintendent for Sustainability Caitlyn Gendusa said July 2 a presentation to City Council.
In 2024, that number was 10,736, up an impressive 66% over 2023. And that usage has continued to increase in 2025, she told the Times-News July 3.
While some of the increase in 2024 might be attributable to the installation of two new stations at the end of 2023, usage in 2025 is projected to go up by 18% over last year.
Gendusa said she expects 12,700 kilowatt-hours to be used at charging stations in 2025, based on the average from January through April.
And that's not taking the spring and summer months into account, when tourism season is in full swing.
Gendusa told the Times-News the rise could be attributable to 'a bigger population base that's using the chargers.'
The city started its EV charging program around 10 years ago, and in that time, it has 'saved 18 tons of greenhouse gas emissions,' Gendusa told Council during the June 2 meeting.
Electric vehicle charging costs Hendersonville around 95 cents per kilowatt-hour. That's factoring in the cost of energy itself, the cost of the infrastructure and fees paid to the manufacturer for support services.
She said that in comparable North Carolina cities where users pay for charging, the cost is around 40 cents per kilowatt-hour, but that many cities still subsidize charging.
City Manager John Connet asked Gendusa if there was an alternative to ChargePoint, pointing out that fees the city paid the company were greater than the cost of electricity itself. In response Gendusa said that, without paying the fee to ChargePoint, the city wouldn't be able to track electricity usage at its stations. The fee also includes warranty and support services, she told the Times-News.
Each Hendersonville station cost between $7,000 and $8,000, plus another $600 for installation, she said, but Gendusa told Council that, according to the Public Works Department, maintenance costs have been low.
Up until now, the cost of charging at one of the city's four stations has been 100% subsidized by the city as a 'service to the community,' Connet said. Electric vehicle drivers pay nothing to charge up at city stations.
It's possible that may change in the future. In the July 2 meeting, councilors mentioned the idea of changing to a pay structure but came to no conclusions.
'Folks are already paying a fee to park in the city, which is new, so I know (the city and council are) more cautious about having another fee, even if it's an additional service that someone's getting,' like charging, Gendusa said.
ChargePoint, the charging manufacturer, would take 10% of any charging fee.
More: After McDowell County fatality, NC's Helene-related death toll rises to 108
More: Are fireworks legal in NC? Here's what to know this Fourth of July
George Fabe Russell is the Henderson County Reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Tips, questions, comments? Email him at GFRussell@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Use of Hendersonville EV stations projected to rise 18% in 2025
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