New EV fast-charging stations installed at Batavia Public Library

The city of Batavia and the Batavia Public Library have opened four new Level 3 electric vehicle fast chargers at the library, now available for public use around the clock.

The project was funded in part by a $320,000 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Driving a Cleaner Illinois Grant, officials announced in a news release. It was administered under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

The Batavia Electric Utility secured the funding, which supports the installation and maintenance of these publicly available EV charging stations. This advances Illinois’ statewide electrification goals, according to the release.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen steady growth in the number of residents installing home EV chargers, and we’re excited to now offer fast Level 3 charging for both residents and visitors,” Steve Allen, superintendent of the Batavia Electric Utility, said in the release.

The Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave., was selected for the charging stations because the site met grant eligibility requirements and reflects the long-standing partnership between the library and the city.

Under a site host agreement, the city managed the installation and will oversee the operation and maintenance of the charging stations. The library will maintain the parking spaces.

In October, the city installed four Level 3 fast chargers for public use at Batavia High School, 1201 Main St., according to the release.

“The library was glad to partner with the city of Batavia by providing space on our campus for the EV charging stations,” Batavia Library Director Josephine Tucci said in the release.

The city partnered with M3 Electrical Contracting for the project, and the electric utility staff did the electrical and offsite utility work.

The total cost is about $575,000, with the Batavia Electric Utility covering the non-grant-funded expenses, according to the release.