Provider plays a role in EV charger installation

Gas Depot in New London recently added a new service to its Amoco station.

Located near the railroad crossings, at the corner of Akron and Clinton streets, the station has offered gasoline and diesel, propane refills, a convenience store, Subway and Hunt Brothers Pizza for years, according to a news release.

Now, it also boasts one of just a handful of electric-vehicle chargers within a 20-mile radius of the southern Huron County village, the release said.

The dual-port ChargePoint Level 2 charger was made possible with the help of a program through Firelands Electric Cooperative, the member-owned electric provider which serves New London.

Firelands, in conjunction with its statewide trade association, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, has been working behind the scenes for some time to get an EV charger installed somewhere in the village.

When Gas Depot owner Creighton Ruggles learned of the program through Firelands Electric, he saw it as an opportunity to expand the station’s business by drawing in the growing EV driver market, according to the release.

After several months of planning and coordinating with Firelands, Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, and BCU of Ashland (which installed the unit), the new charger went online in late December, the release said.

“Electric vehicles are not commonplace in rural areas yet,” said Firelands General Manager Dan McNaull in the release. “One of the reasons for this is a lack of charging stations.

“Located near the intersection of two main highways — state Route 60 and state Route 162 — Gas Depot is the perfect location for the charging station. Those passing through on their way to Cedar Point or Lake Erie can easily charge their EVs while grabbing a bite to eat or picking up drinks and snacks.”

The average national price per kilowatt at a public Level 2 charger ranges anywhere from $0.10 to $0.45, according to the release.

Providing up to 7 kilowatts from either of its two ports, the charger in New London costs $0.22/kW.

This comes out to approximately $1.55 for a one-hour charge — which, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, is good for about 1020 miles of drive time, depending upon weather conditions and other environmental factors, the release said.

“The new ChargePoint station is a win for everyone,” McNaull said. “It will bring in business for Gas Depot and other businesses in the village, while also ensuring that EV drivers have readily available access to charge their vehicles.”

Firelands Electric, A Touchstone Energy Cooperative, is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative providing service to approximately 9,200 homes and businesses in rural areas of Ashland, Huron, Lorain and Richland counties.

SUBMITTED Co-op member Dan Osborne of Willard, left, takes advantage of the new EV charger at New London’s Amoco/Gas Depot. Also shown are Gas Depot owner Creighton Ruggles and Firelands Electric Cooperative General Manager Dan McNaull.