The pricey Tesla Model S and BMW i8 were lined up with Chevy Volts, but the idea was to show how local partners continue to team up to make the environment better and residents’ wallets greener.
The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, NIPSCO and South Shore Clean Cities cut the ribbon on a charging station at NIRPC’s headquarters, 6100 Southport Road, Portage, part of NIPSCO’s IN-Charge Around Town Electric Vehicle Charging Station Program.
“It’s a united vision that brings us together” and made the charging station accessible, said NIRPC Executive Director Ty Warner.
The newest public charging station is the latest of 80 stations NIPSCO has installed across northern Indiana, with 73 stations in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, said Deb Backhus, program manager for the Around Town program.
Nearly all of the stations have two charging units, Backhus said.
For businesses, municipalities and other organizations, NIPSCO picks up $3,000 of the installation and equipment costs, with customers paying any differences for running the necessary electric lines to their electricity sources.
In some cases, as in the station outside of NIRPC, NIPSCO picked up the whole tab.
NIPSCO has been offering the IN-Charge Around Town program to businesses and municipalities since 2014 and residential electric charging units since 2012 as an off-shoot of a consent decree the company signed in 2009, said Kevin Kirkham, director of NIPSCO’s program.
“The great thing for electric vehicle owners is, it depends on vehicle you purchase, but, on average, we tell customers you can expect fuel savings of 75 percent for organizations, and, for residential customers, you get all the fuel savings through January 2017.”
After a ribbon-cutting with representatives from 28 communities that have the charging stations, attendees took rides in a line of electric cars.
The City of Portage has the most units, with seven charging stations in different businesses and government offices, but Whiting was one of the first communities to install the charging stations, beginning in 2012, said Mayor Joe Stahura.
“Every project we do now, we’re going to include charging stations,” he said. “It’s just the right thing to do. It shows you’re thinking about green initiatives.”
The availability of electric charging stations throughout Northwest Indiana has boosted electric car sales, said David Sikkenga, district manager for Chevy dealerships throughout the area.
“I think the availability of stations like this to charge, and with individuals finding out more and the research is out, and with an opportunity to get some tax credits, people are taking advantage of those things to buy electric cars,” he said.
In just 18 months, sales have jumped from two to three electric cars sold each month to nearly 10 a month, Sikkenga said.
Chesterton Town Councilman and NIRPC Chairman James Ton lauded the program, but he also offered some advice to municipal leaders.
“You do need some statutes and ordinances to back this program up,” he said of installing charging stations and the requisite dedicated parking spaces. “People need to know, if you don’t have and electric vehicle, don’t park in that spot.”
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Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.