Charging station in WB to be ready for use by spring

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Monday, Nov. 19 to approve the installation of an electric vehicle charging station at the Civic Center campus.

The charger will be located between the Township Hall and the West Bloomfield Public Library, off Walnut Lake Road at the township’s Civic Center site. Electric service will be run underground out of the Township Hall basement electric room.

The township board and library will also split the installation costs, which are estimated to be between $7,000 and $12,000, as well as future maintenance costs.

“The library board reviewed it and felt this sets an example of the advantages of being green, and we want to promote that,” said West Bloomfield Library Director Clara Bohrer.

Through an offer from Chargepoint, the township will be provided the charging station equipment free of charge.

The station will have two different levels of chargers to accommodate different types of electric vehicles and simultaneously charge two vehicles.

Township Trustee Steve Kaplan said it would cost a user 25 cents per 15 minutes to charge a car, with a maximum of 2 hours or $2. Payments will be accepted by debit or credit card.

The board also agreed to an annual service contract with Chargepoint for service plan software. The contract will be free for the first year, but will then cost the township $200 annually.

The board will later look to amend its traffic control ordinance to give township police the authority to ticket drivers who use the charging station parking spaces while not charging an electric vehicle.

Kaplan added that any funds gained from charging station fees would be divided between the township and the library, but that he doesn’t expect a profit to be made.

It’s unknown what hours the station will be available during the day and night.

The township looks to have the charging station installed and ready for use by the beginning of spring.