Batavia drops price for EV charging, adds fines for loitering, non-EV parking at stations

The Batavia City Council has made it less expensive to charge an electric vehicle in town while adding restrictions and fees for prolonged parking at charging stations.

Council members unanimously approved an ordinance during their Monday meeting to reduce charging rates at EV stations within the city and to add loitering fees.

The cost to charge at Level 2 charging stations in Batavia has been reduced from 40 cents to 25 cents per kWh. Batavia’s incoming Level 3 chargers, which operate at a significantly faster rate, will cost 50 cents per kWh.

Batavia has a Level 2 station at the Government Center downtown and is installing Level 3 chargers at Batavia High School and another location that’s yet to be determined. The charging stations at the high school are expected to be operational by the end of the month.

The newly approved ordinance allows for owners of EVs left at Batavia stations after they’re fully charged to be fined $1 per minute for parking, with a maximum fee of $120. That would kick in following a 30-minute grace period allowed for owners to move their EVs when they’re done charging.

Gas-powered vehicles parked at charging stations will be subject to $100 fines and can be towed, regardless of the length of time they are parked.

EV charging is monitored through apps that alert owners once their vehicle is fully powered, which is when the grace period begins.

Council member Alan Wolff asked how the parking at charging stations would be monitored.

Steve Allen, Batavia’s electric superintendent, said if an EV is left plugged in, the time would be shown on the charging equipment. If an owner unplugs a vehicle but leaves it parked there, that timing would have to be monitored through other surveillance measures.

Police Chief Eric Blowers said a state statute imposes a $75 fine for gas-powered vehicles that park at EV charging stations. He said municipalities can increase the fine to $100 and reserve the right to tow those vehicles at the owners’ expense.