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Village of Canton celebrates ‘National Drive Electric Week’ with EV chargers, purchase of hybrid police cruiser

Posted 9/28/20

CANTON —National Drive Electric Week, Sept. 26 to Oct. 4, is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. The …

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Village of Canton celebrates ‘National Drive Electric Week’ with EV chargers, purchase of hybrid police cruiser

Posted

CANTON —National Drive Electric Week, Sept. 26 to Oct. 4, is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. The Village of Canton is marking the week by raising awareness of recently installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations downtown and the police department's newly purchased hybrid cruiser.

“With the local efforts on sustainability and the larger ongoing discussion about our ‘carbon footprint,” the Village has looked for ways to improve in these areas,” says Mayor Michael Dalton. “It is prudent both fiscally and environmentally to find ways to save fuel expense and make good environmental choices, we are committed to that.”

With incentives and subsidies from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NSERDA) and National Grid, two ChargePoint EV chargers were installed by Apex Solar in the municipal parking lot off Hodskin Street. One is a Level 2 (roughly 7 kw) charger that takes three to four hours to give a full charge; a fast charger (25 kw) charger will give a full charge in an hour. The chargers are free to the public.

The village received an $8,000 rebate from NYSERDA for the Level 2 charger and a $35,000 rebate from National Grid for installation of both. The village’s cost was $164 plus labor and minor paving expenses.

“At this time, the village will provide charging for free to encourage use and promote downtown business. We will apply for a power rebate from National Grid for the first year,” explains Village Trustee Klaus Proemm, who has taken the lead on procuring the chargers.

Also this year, the village police department purchased their first hybrid vehicle. “The decision to purchase a hybrid made sense based on the potential fuel savings and the reports from larger departments that tested them,” says Dalton. “To the public, it's just another police vehicle; to the taxpayer it is a hybrid that is saving the village on its fuel costs.”

“The Village’s new hybrid vehicle was delivered in August and has already reduced gas consumption by about half,” said Village Police Chief Jim Santimaw. “The officers all seem pleased with the vehicle, once they get used to its differences.”

"Canton’s Sustainability Committee would like to thank National Grid, NYSERDA, Apex Solar, ChargePoint, and Village staff for a job well done,” says Proemm. “These EV chargers will benefit Village and Town residents and visitors to Canton, and hopefully encourage further use of alternatives to fossil fuel."

National Grid is offering a series of webinars this week about EVs and chargers; register and learn more at https://drivegreen.nationalgridus.com/learn/events.