Jasper takes next step in winning grant for electric/hybrid car infrastructure

The City of Jasper is applying for a grant with the Indiana Office of Energy Development under the Community Conservation Challenge that will fund the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in Jasper.

The Utility Service Board met in a special session last night and Utility General Manager Bud Hauersperger introduced a request to pursue the grant by submitting an application.

The concept is being pursued because there are more electric and hybrid plug-in electric vehicles being sold and City Department officials are considering adding several to its own fleet.

Currently, the two nearest cities with charging stations are Bloomington and Indianapolis. Installing charging stations will put Jasper on the map of locations that offer them to those who own these vehicles. In fact, some of these vehicles offer an in-car map service which brings up the nearest locations with charging facilities. Jasper could be included on those maps.

As the electric and hybrid plug-in electric vehicles begin to sell in greater numbers, so does the need for charging stations. Tony Uebelhor of Uebelhor and Sons in Jasper says that the biggest inhibitor to consumers buying electric and hybrid plug-in electric vehicles is called “range anxiety.” In other words, they fear getting stuck with a dead battery and no way to power their vehicle. This is unlikely to happen because most electric vehicles include a small gasoline engine that supplies power to the batteries to keep the vehicle running for hundreds of miles

The City of Jasper is looking at solar power assisted charging stations in three forms:

1. A canopy style with a solar overhang that collects energy from the sun to supply charging power for up to six vehicles at a time while offering shielding from inclement weather.
2. A stand-alone individual charging station that utilizes a smaller solar panel.
3. A roof-mounted solar panel system that would be placed on a building and supply electricity to a nearby charging system for a few electric vehicles.

The locations being considered include the public parking lot next to the Post Office down town, the train depot, the waste water treatment plant for a future purchase of a vehicle to be used in that department, and a charging station at the electric utility office meter reading department.

The user would be charged a set amount per hour of charging. Included in the price would be a credit / debit card reader and the ability for the charging station to send out a text message or email to the vehicle owner when the charging is completed or the electricity flow is interrupted.

Hauersperger also talked about partnering with several hotels in the Jasper area to install charging stations there as well.

He also went on to say that the cost for the initial charging stations at the three or four locations around Jasper would cost between $300,000 and $400,000 for the whole project. The grant limit is $500,000. The deadline to submit a grant application is November 10th and the USB approved his request to move forward with it.