Downtown Milford getting vehicle charging stations

The village of Milford will soon be getting a boost — an electric boost, that is — in the form of six new charging stations for electric vehicles in the downtown area.

The Village Council voted Monday, June 20 to approved a proposal from the village’s Parking Authority to have three charging stations installed in the east municipal parking lot near Union Street and three charging stations installed in the village’s west parking lot.

Village Manager Arthur Shufflebarger said the Parking Authority will pay up to $20,000 for the installation of the stations and that they should be up and ready this fall.

The stations are coming to the village with the support of the General Motors Co., which owns the GM Proving Grounds in Milford Township and is donating the six stations that cost between $30,000 and $35,000 each.

In a memo to council members, Keith Hughes, chairperson of the Parking Authority, stated there will be no additional expense for Milford residences or building owners and that the installation will be fully funded with Parking Authority monies.

He added that the Parking Authority will not charge users for charging their electric vehicles until the authority determines the expenses and benefits of the stations. After that, there will be a modest fee collected over the long-term future.

Customers would then be able to pay the charge fees via a credit card or a pre-paid ChargePoint card.

Hughes also stated that the charging stations would be a great marketing opportunity for the Milford Business Association and a chance to enhance the village’s relationship with the employees of GM and Ford.

Other area communities that are considering the installation of charging stations are Brighton, Novi and Plymouth.