Electric vehicle chargers at two Grundy locations are seeing use, but they bring in little money beyond the cost of providing the service, members of the Town of Grundy Industrial Development Authority said at their Sept. 22 meeting.
The authority recently raised its charging rate from 35 cents to 45 cents per kilowatt-hour after comparing rates at other locations. Chargers at Grundy Plaza are seeing more use than those in front of Factory Connection at the Grundy Town Center.
IDA properties manager Dennis Ramey said the authority collects the charging fees but also pays for the electricity.
“We pay the power bill,” Ramey said. “People will use their credit card, and it will charge the credit card for how much they use, whether it’s $10 or whatever.”
Ramey said the authority applied for the chargers through Virginia Clean Cities. Tennessee Tech provided the equipment, and the IDA paid to install it, IDA Chairman Chris Shortridge said. Each location can charge two vehicles.
Shortridge said the chargers are roughly breaking even. He described them as a service to drivers rather than a major revenue source for the authority.
Board members also talked about adding faster chargers. The existing units are Level 2 chargers, and Shortridge said he would like to see more chargers and faster equipment if an opportunity becomes available.
The authority did not approve purchasing or installing additional chargers.
