Lewes expected to add EV charging stations

Owners of electric vehicles should soon have a place to charge their cars in Lewes. 

The Lewes Board of Public Works has included money in its 2017/18 budget to install four charging stations in the city. Paul Evalds, owner of Avatar Industries outside Lewes, has committed to buy four charging stations for the city. The BPW’s only expense will be to install the stations, estimated at about $6,000. 

Evalds will receive a $500 rebate for each station he purchases, which he will donate to the BPW to pay for the electricity. 

The location of the stations is up to the City of Lewes, and no decisions have been made yet. 

Suggested locations include Otis Smith Park by the Beacon Motel, the city-owned stoned parking lot at Schley and Franklin avenues and the new trailhead parking lot near the Lewes Public Library. 

Evalds is planning to purchase two Tesla-only stations and two generic stations that can accommodate any electric vehicle. 

Evalds previously approached BPW officials about installing EV charging stations in Lewes last summer, but it was shelved in September. 

Charging stations have popped up in several locations around Lewes, including the Cape-May Lewes Ferry terminal, Tanger Outlets and the new Park and Ride on Route 1 near Five Points. 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are now 15,912 electric charging stations with nearly 42,500 charging outlets in the U.S.