Tim Harty, The Business Times

The City of Grand Junction announced it is constructing two new Level 2 Electric Vehicle charging stations and has replaced three city-owned charging facilities with new software, EvGateway.

In alignment with the adopted EV Readiness Plan, charging fees are being implemented at all sites to cover infrastructure costs and align with national practices for EV charging, according to a Dec. 16 news release from the city.

The three existing Level 2 EV charging sites are located at: 135 S. 7th St., 925 Struthers Ave., and 1351 Riverfront Drive. Two additional stations at Lincoln Park are expected to open by the end of 2024. All locations will share the same fee structure:

• An electricity fee of 17 cents per kilowatt-hour will be charged for users during their stay at the site.
• A $1 connection fee will be charged to users to prevent fees from being solely based on the time of a charging session.
• An overstay fee of 10 cents per minute will accrue after the EV reaches a full charge following a 15-minute grace period. The fee is intended to encourage drivers to monitor and end sessions promptly to allow others to use the charging station.

To use the city-owned charging sites, drivers must download the EvGateway app and create a free account. The app provides real-time access to charging-station availability and session details.

A map of EV charging stations is available online at gjcity.org. More information about the EvGatway app can be found through the website.

Skyhook unveils new solar EV charging station

Grand Junction-based Skyhook Solar’s new D6 Solar Station for charging electric vehicles is now operational at the Aspen Community School in Woody Creek.

Skyhook’s state-of-the-art solar-powered EV charging solution was developed in collaboration with Toronto-based SWTCH Energy and global innovator LG Electronics. Skyhook Solar claims charging station will enhance the school’s EV-charging capacity and demonstrate the critical role solar energy can play in charging electric vehicles at multi-unit dwellings and workplaces.

The D6 Solar Station replaces a Skyhook prototype that had been at the school for nearly four years. EV drivers on the school staff will be able to charge two electric vehicles simultaneously and replenish commute mileage day after day.

“This project represents a substantial upgrade, and it’s a testament to Skyhook’s commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said Daniel Delano, CEO of Skyhook Solar, 740 Scarlet St. in Grand Junction. “With LG’s cutting-edge charging hardware and the software of SWTCH integrated with ours, we’re laying the groundwork for cleaner, more resilient EV-charging infrastructure to serve EV drivers who cannot charge at home.”

Delano added it is Skyhook’s hope this new solar station serves as a reminder that the technologies exist to ensure a cleaner, brighter future.

“We must all do what we can to phase out the use of fossil fuels by electrifying transportation and by every means possible,” Delano said.

According to recent data provided by SWTCH Energy, approximately 30 percent of households in the United States and 40 percent of households in Canada lack access to home EV charging. This underscores the importance of expanding public and workplace charging infrastructure to ensure the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and support the transition to a more sustainable future.

The new Skyhook Solar Station features advanced solar and battery technology, enabling EVs to be charged seamlessly and sustainably at variable Level X speeds. Equipped with LG’s Level 2 EV chargers, the Skyhook Solar Station offers a resilient and efficient charging solution.

Colorado completes EV fast-charging project

Colorado’s EV Fast-Charging Corridors program, a major step in advancing a statewide electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging network, has been completed, according to the Colorado Governor’s Office and Colorado Energy Office.

The network will make EV travel more convenient and cost-effective for EV owners in Colorado.

The state dedicated more than $10 million to the program, which has installed 33 fast chargers at key locations across Colorado, including along major transportation routes. More than $2 million in private and local government investment also supported the buildout of these charging stations.

To date, there are more than 1,100 fast-charging and 4,400 Level 2 ports available across the state. The state expects about 400 more state and federally funded fast-charging ports to open in the next year through the Fast-Charging Plazas Grant program.

“Almost 80 percent of the state highway network is now within 30 miles of a DC fast charger,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of CDOT, which helped fund the Corridors program. “We’re getting very close to accomplishing our goal of creating a Colorado where anyone can drive anyplace in the state they want, regardless of what type of vehicle they have.”

The Colorado Energy Office partnered with ChargePoint to install fast chargers in the following locations:

• Western Slope: Craig, Dinosaur, Durango (x2), Granby, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, Pagosa Springs, Rifle, Steamboat Springs, Vail.
• Front Range: Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Canon City, Conifer, Dacono, Estes Park, Fairplay, Georgetown, Greeley, Pueblo, Wellington, Westminster, Wheat Ridge.
• Eastern Plains: Burlington, La Junta, Lamar, Limon, Sterling.
• Other regions: Alamosa, Salida.

As of May 2023, 17 of Colorado’s 26 Scenic & Historic byways are considered electric byways, with nine chargers funded through the corridors program enabling this designation.