Planning Commission unveils 24 Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations

On April 22, employees of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), Drive Electric Dayton, Heartland Charging Services and the Dayton Metro Library gathered in front of the Trotwood Branch of Dayton Metro Library. They had come together to celebrate the first charging of an electric vehicle (EV) at one of 24 newly installed Level 2 charging stations across the region.

The ribbon cutting was the culmination of a multi-year project in which MVRPC asked its member communities to volunteer to host these charging stations. Communities that applied and accepted to the program would receive the stations, with MVRPC covering 100% of the design, construction and operational costs for five years. While MVRPC was initially unsure if the organizations would be interested in the program, many joined in, including the cities of Bellbrook, Kettering and Dayton; Five Rivers MetroParks; and more. “We just thought that this would be an important opportunity as EVs start to grow in sales and in the mix of vehicle types on the roads,” says MVRPC Executive Director Brian O. Martin.

The project was paid for by using federal funds allocated from the Carbon Reduction Program. “We had to use the funds within a year or so and we felt that this type of project would be eligible,” Martin says. Although the funds proved to be an important opportunity to install these charging stations, it was much more than just a coincidence that MVRPC moved forward with this project. It was the duty of the organization, Martin says, to install these EV chargers. “One of the benefits is clean air for our region … and that’s part of our mandate as a metropolitan planning organization,” he says. “We’re a public service so we try to make our region as good as it can be.”

While MVPRC is no stranger to helping the community boost infrastructure and plan communities, Martin says that the project was a new one for the organization. In addition to being responsible for the upkeep of the project, the planning process was unlike anything the department had done before. Usually, Martin says, the department works as more of a consulting firm; here though, MVRPC was responsible for the actual construction of the stations. It required the MVPRC to collaborate directly with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the construction workers who would install the charging stations. “We didn’t know much and ODOT didn’t know much about this either, so we just kind of collaborated and made it happen.”

Moving forward, Martin says the organization is excited to see the response from the community. For Martin personally though, the project was a win. “As an EV owner myself, we definitely want to make sure the infrastructure is clean and well maintained,” he says. “When we pull out to charge, we really need a charge and so we expect them to work.”

While it is too soon to know just how successful the project will end up being, there has been a positive response from the community. “It is wonderful that we are able to provide charging services at two of our parks, Twin Arch Reserve and Lost Creek Reserve,” says J. Scott Myers, executive director of Miami County Park District. “Both parks have a lot of visitors and are on busy roadways. This will allow many people to charge their vehicles in places they drive by regularly and like to visit. What a great asset these will be for our park system.”

Martin doesn’t foresee a change to the slow yet steady switch to electric vehicles. It is because of this trend that he and the rest of MVRPC feel like the project was well worth the investment. “Communities are buying electric vehicles: police cars, public works vehicles, trucks, whatnot,” he says. “The industry is here to stay.”