Builders adding chargers for e-cars can get cash

Smart Columbus is offering $175,000 to builders of apartments and condominiums in central Ohio to install electric-vehicle charging stations.

It’s the organization’s second round of funding. Earlier this year, Smart Columbus awarded $170,000 to help fund charging stations at 16 complexes.

The money comes from the $10 million grant that the Paul G. Allen Philanthropies awarded to Columbus as the winner of the Smart Cities Challenge. Columbus also won $40 million from the federal government by winning the Smart Cities Challenge.

This program aims to make home charging of electric vehicles easier for apartment or condo residents. Casto, a Columbus real estate development firm, won money in the first round and is using it to install two electric-vehicle chargers at its River & Rich development in Franklinton, 233 units that are to open by early November.

“Apartment communities don’t have anything like that,” said John Riat, Casto’s development coordinator.

Riat said Casto also is installing 240-volt outlets at 12 townhouses so that people can charge their cars there. He said Casto thinks that will help attracts tenants. The U.S. Department of Energy says 80 to 85 percent of vehicle charging happens at home.

Mandy Bishop, the program coordinator for the city of Columbus, said the goal is to get more electric vehicles on the road and “decarbonize” people’s transportation options.

Incentives can be redeemed for up to $3,500 per plug or parking space, with a maximum of $25,000 awarded to an applicant.

Clean Fuels Ohio will review the applications. The awards will be based on factors including geographic distribution of projects and budgets. The money is available to developers in Franklin, Delaware, Union, Madison, Pickaway, Fairfield and Licking counties.

Applications are due Oct. 1 and are available on the Smart Columbus website: https://smart. columbus.gov.