This link: $1.7 million awarded to build 36 electric vehicle chargers – many in rural Michigan cities just came out today stating new DC fast chargers. CCS charging stations are being installed at 36 different locations including Norway which is just outside Iron Mountain.
I talked to someone at the Norway city hall today. They just ordered their fast charger hardware and they're hoping to have it installed on Main Street before the ground freezes. They aren't sure yet of exact placement, how many kW it will provide, or price to use.
Per the linked article, the grant requires each applicant to pay 1/3 of the project cost. Most applicants list "two chargers" (probably "one charger with two connectors: CCS and Chademo"), and were awarded a grant of $40k-$50k (or total project cost of $60k-$75k). That's in-line with a single $40k 100A/125A DCFC unit plus install. The station in Norway was awarded a grant of only $26.3k, so the total project cost is about $39.5k. That might purchase a 50kw unit, but not install it, so unfortunately I think 50kw is probably out of the picture. While most awarded sites list "two chargers," Norway MI lists "one charger". If that means one connector, then it could be the Bosch EL-52240 (CCS only), or the similar Delta 25kw unit. Hopefully not the case. Not sure if it's too late for them to crowd-source the extra $2500 to upgrade to the Delta model with CCS+Chademo. Delta Wallbox 25kW DCFC 25kW - Dual Port
It is got to be a 25kW charger based upon the grant figure. Better than nothing and L2 chargers. I am aware of another Michigan based EV car charger vendor that is actively scouting and wants to install their chargers elsewhere in the UP. Time will tell when and if this occurs.
Might be technically better than nothing but not practically. Slow, near no real facilities and not easily accessible to the overwhelming majority of long range EVs on the road today. This is an enrichment scheme for those building it not a legit EV project.
This is an enrichment scheme for those building it not a legit EV project.----would you like to explain this enrichment scheme in detail when Tesla loses money on their Supercharging network? Better yet, when is the state of "Wisconsin going to use their 9 million VW dollars for electric car chargers?
Tesla don't spend any money on TV advertisement, and build Superchargers instead, which might be smarter. Companies try to spend any profits they make doing something useful or buying new assets to avoid paying taxes. So I'm not really sure if Tesla really loses money, however I imagine that what we pay when using a SC barely pay for the lease and electricity.
Did a koolaid spill stop you from seeing this is NOT a Tesla supercharger site? This looks to be a 25kw site CCS/Chademo and if it were just 6 miles or so further west it would be in a bigger town situated on the major north/south and east/west routes thru the area. If you really wanted to halfass more I suppose you could. A legitimate attempt to bring EV charging to such a remote area should be nearer the crossroads, should be nearer facilities, should include capability to support the far and away most numerous EVs on the road........... This is just checking boxes and I would be interested to see links between those involved, betting someone's brother has the electrical contract and cousin has the concrete..........
It will be better than existing options, but the only legitimate excuse for installing a 25 kW DCFC in 2020 should be if only 3-phase power is unavailable (and thus a 50 kW charger isn't feasible). I don't know, but I'm guessing that's not a limitation here. But hey, on the bright side, the 50 kW (well typically more like 40 kW) limit of the Tesla CHAdeMO adapter won't be a problem here!
From the MI EGLE: As well as: That would mean the charger install in Norway will cost around $78,933.90, not $39.5k, because the city is paying 1/3, the utility is paying 1/3, and the grant is covering the remaining 1/3. That should be enough to cover the install of one ChargePoint Express 250. Further, the grant requires a minimum capability of 50 kW with the potential to upgrade to 100+ kW in the future:
Did a koolaid spill stop you from seeing this is NOT a Tesla supercharger site?---Since Tesla has not moved on installing any chargers in the UP a DCFC charger is better than NO Tesla charger in the UP. Been thru the area many times as I have a home in Wisconsin 80 miles from this location. The drive up from Green Bay can go thru this location.
Thanks, sdoorex, I had not read that article carefully. I misread, and total project cost is about 3x the grant amount. I did read about 5 articles on the grant, including the state press release and had not seen any mention of the 50kw requirement. It's good to hear it's in the RFP. Regarding Norway being a bad location, I think it's OK (compared to Iron Mountain). If you're heading through Iron Mountain, then you're probably passing near Norway anyways. Only if you were passing between 70 on the west side, and 95 north, would you not head near Norway (and if you were passing between 41 and 2, then it's better than IM). The siting decision can also come down to who the utility is. For example, Norway MI has municipal power, whose interests are tied to the city council and businesses. Iron Mountain is We Electric territory.
I watched the Norway city council's meeting, approving buying their charger: (skip to 39:30). The charger is a Chargepoint, and the device costs $56,079. I think that sounds like probably the Chargepoint Express 250/CPE250, which does have a Chademo connector. That unit looks like a good fit for this grant, because the grant requires 50kw today, but expandability to 100+kw. The CPE250 can be expanded by having a second unit installed, and the two units collectively can deliver 100+kw balanced across 2 vehicles. They approved the purchase on 8/17/2020, and they were planning a follow-up meeting for 8/19 to discuss four possible locations.
I cruised around Norway MI this morning, looking for signs of construction. At the northwest corner of 6th Ave & Main St, there are some cones marked "Norway DPW", and a cut-out of asphalt in front of a set of utility contactors on the corner. There is also a fresh trench cut from there west along 6th Av to a pair of utility poles. This could be unrelated to the new charger, but it's the only new work I could see today.
That location is one block south of US-2 which is heavily traveled in the east-west direction. The location is also two blocks from US-8 which could be used for those traveling from or to Green Bay Wisconsin., A hardware store is in the background of the previous photo and a post office is on the next block.
The previous photos were from Monday morning. By Wednesday morning, it had been excavated and conduit had been roughly laid-in.
Just an update that the charger in Norway is reportedly done. It's a Chargepoint Express 250 (so 156A). The Norway City Council will vote on what to charge at their next meeting (12/21, I believe), then it will be turned-on.