To kick off National Drive Electric Week, Michigan State University Mobility and the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for two new fast-charging electric vehicle, or EV, stations that are available for public use near MSU’s campus.
The event was held in partnership with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Consumers Energy and the Capital Area Transportation Authority.
“We celebrated the installation of two new fast EV chargers, the first near the university’s campus,” said Adam Lawver, director of campus services with MSU’s Infrastructure Planning and Facilities. “These chargers represent the future of transportation, something that is being created here at MSU thanks to a strategic focus on mobility that includes electric, autonomous, connected vehicles, and the sociomobility impacts related to these new innovations.”
The two new DC, or direct current, fast-charging EV stations, located at the CATA Multimodal Gateway in parking lot 80 at 1240 S. Harrison Rd. in East Lansing, are available for public use. The stations cost $4 per hour and can quickly recharge any compatible EV vehicle in under an hour.
“We are pleased to have opened the newest fast EV chargers supported by Consumers Energy in Michigan,” said Jeff Myrom, director of electric transportation customer programs at Consumers Energy. “This will help more Michiganders have access to clean, carbon-free energy so everyone can ‘Go Green!’”
The location of the fast-charging EV stations was determined using research by Mehrnaz Ghamami, an associate professor in MSU’s College of Engineering.
“We are so grateful for the research done by Ghamami and her team to determine the best location for these new chargers and for MSU’s and CATA’s work to deploy, operate and maintain these charging stations,” said Jessica Crawford, community programs coordinator with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. “This charging station was funded in part by EGLE’s ChargeUp Michigan Program.”
The new stations are also barrier free, making them accessible to anyone with mobility challenges.
“We are very proud here at MSU Mobility to be intentional in our designs for the future of mobility so that we can increase accessibility and equity in the next era of the transportation sector,” said MSU Mobility Director Judd Herzer.
“The future is now,” said Brad Funkhouser, chief executive officer at Capital Area Transportation Authority. “Sustainability and EV technology has become a primary and expected way of life.”
Mehrnaz Ghamami was also in attendance at the event.
