We’re happy to announce we have two new electric vehicle fast charging stations now available downtown. They’re part of a pilot project to prepare for and support the expected growth of electric vehicle use in Colorado Springs.
The Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations are in the city public parking garage, 130 S. Nevada Ave. The benefit to these chargers is that they are fast - and for a limited time, they’ll be free for you to use. Charging times vary by battery size and the level of battery charge, but a typical stay at a fast-charging station is 30 minutes, compared to 2 to 4 hours for a level 2 charger.
Electric vehicle adoption can help us reduce our emissions, and one of the ways we can support electric vehicle adoption is with charging infrastructure. Limited charging infrastructure is noted by our customers as one of the top five barriers to purchasing an electric vehicle.
The charging stations will be able to be used by most makes and models of light-duty electric vehicles.
Currently there are between 2,000-2,500 electric vehicles in Colorado Springs. But studies indicate we may see anywhere from 400,000 to 800,000 electric vehicles on the roads in Colorado Springs in the next 30 years.
We’re also partnering with the City of Colorado Springs to develop an Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan. The fast charger pilot project helps inform future strategies in the plan. The plan will provide guidance on electric city and utility fleet vehicles, public education and outreach, electric vehicle adoption incentives, policy to support electric vehicles and identification of charging locations.
There are currently about 100 public charging outlets across Colorado Springs, including our three level 2 stations: