Juiced Up
As the result of a state grant, motorists who drive electric or hybrid vehicles can enjoy Butler County's natural beauty while charging their cars, and the employees of two local companies can charge up while working.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday that 1,000 level-2 electric vehicle chargers have been installed across the state using “Driving PA Forward” grant funding.
Of Butler County's 16 chargers, half are accessible for free charging by the public.
Those chargers have been installed at the county's state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) parks, which are Moraine State Park, McConnells Mill State Park and Jennings Environmental Education Center, plus the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania's Succop Nature Park on Airport Road in Penn Township.
Wil Taylor, the center manager at Jennings in Brady Township, said the idea behind offering electric vehicle charging at state parks was to provide a natural venue for those waiting for their car to reach a full charge, which can take a few hours for a dead battery.“That's two hours of visitation at the park,” Taylor said. “You can use the trails or visit the education center. I can't think of a better place to charge your car.”He said the cost for the electricity used when visitors charge their cars is added onto Jennings' monthly bill.Taylor said that because of a recent efficiency update at Jennings that included LED lightbulbs, weatherstripping, insulation and other energy-saving measures, the monthly electric bill actually decreased.“Overwhelmingly, I think it's a good thing,” Taylor said of the chargers. “We're modeling the importance of renewable resources, and maybe encouraging people to go with a hybrid or electric vehicle.”Jim Bonner, executive director of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, said the charging station at Succop Nature Park makes the second at local Audubon facilities, as another already was in place at the Beechwood Farms location in Fox Chapel, Allegheny County.Another station is planned for the new Buffalo Creek Nature Park and Todd Nature Reserve in Buffalo Township.“It's critically important that we increase the electric car charging infrastructure,” Bonner said.He said those who charge their vehicles at Succop can enjoy the trails or activities taking place at the park while their batteries fill up.“Basically, you can just come and enjoy the outdoors,” Bonner said.Bonner owns an Audi A3 e-tron hybrid, which he drives to and from work using electric power only.
“I go six weeks between putting any gas in my car, which is wonderful,” he said. “I also like the performance of the car. There is less noise and no fumes.”He only asks that cars be charged while drivers are visiting the society's facilities, as some have left their vehicles to charge overnight at one venue.Dustin Drew, park manager at McConnells Mill and Moraine, said the charger at the former is at the Kildoo picnic area and the latter near the bike rental building on Lake Arthur's north shore.“Use has been increasing each year,” Drew said of the charging stations. “I wouldn't say it's daily at this point, but it's definitely weekly.”He said the DCNR engaged in a statewide effort to place the charging stations in metropolitan areas, near highways and a little farther off the beaten path to create a grid where electric vehicles can be charged.Feedback on the chargers at his two parks has been positive, Drew said.Some drivers noticed the stations while visiting the park, while others found them on a mobile app and came to the parks to enjoy them while their cars charged.“It's one more availability for visitors,” Drew said.
Employees at Butler Memorial Hospital and MSA in Cranberry Township can take advantage of a free vehicle charge with the new chargers while they work.Jeff Craig, facility manager at MSA, said the company has a dual charger at the corporate center in Cranberry Woods and another at the nearby lab, where employees can charge their electric and hybrid cars.He said employees sign up with a third-party service before using the chargers at work.“It's part of MSA's drive toward sustainability,” Craig said, “and it gets people thinking about electric vehicles.”He said fewer than 10 employees are now signed up to use the free charging stations, but they were used frequently before the coronavirus pandemic hit.“I think it's a very positive thing,” Craig said. “If you have an electric car, and you've invested in it, it's nice to come get it charged while you're doing your work.”Frank Polselli, director of facilities at Butler Health System, said 15 employees have signed up to use the app, which allows them to charge their cars in the parking lot across from Butler Memorial Hospital's Brady Street entrance.“And I've had three people this week say they are going to buy an electric car,” he said. “We've had a good response.”Polselli said he has seen a van, Tesla, Ford and other vehicles in the special green parking spaces at the health system's two dual chargers.“I think it's a great idea because while they are working they can have their cars charged, and when they leave they don't have to worry about stopping at (a gas station) to charge up.”
Reid Joyce, of Middlesex Township, drives a 2017 Chevy Volt hybrid, which is approaching 18,000 miles.He normally drives the car locally, but has taken it on overnight trips five times.“If you don't go more than 50 miles per day, the gas engine doesn't run at all,” Joyce said.Joyce was glad to hear of the charging stations being installed in the county.“The single biggest thing holding back the popular interest in electric vehicles is the charging infrastructure,” he said. “The more (charging stations) there are, the more comfortable people will become with electric vehicles.”
