Burlington will install 200 new EV charging stations over the next seven years

Burlington will increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations available in the city by six times over the next seven years, thanks to a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The grant went to Burlington Electric Department, which plans to use the money to install 153 Level 2 and 47 Level 3 fast chargers at about 85 public sites throughout Burlington. Darren Springer, BED general manager, said Burlington will go from having three Level 3 fast-charger stations to having 50 fast-charger stations once the build-out is complete, which is aimed at keeping pace with EV demand through 2030.

Level 2 charging stations typically take a couple of hours to fully charge a vehicle, while Level 3 charging is typically completed in about half an hour. These are estimates and exact times will depend on the vehicle and battery type.

"This generational investment in the electrification effort in Burlington will make EV charging more accessible in our city, including for renters, Burlingtonians residing in areas of our community identified as disadvantaged under federal economic justice criteria, and those visiting our local Burlington businesses," Springer said in a statement. "We thank our federal delegation for their support of investment in EV charging and the U.S. Department of Transportation for this critical funding."

Bernie Sanders: Vermont is getting its fair share of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said in a news release it was important for Vermont to receive its fair share of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made the USDOT grant possible.

"Electric vehicles are not only better for the planet than gasoline-powered cars, they also help Vermont residents save in fuel and maintenance costs in the long term," Sanders said.

Using the grant money, BED will bring more charging ports to every Burlington neighborhood, at locations such as neighborhood retail and commercial centers, municipal parks, community centers, schools, transportation hubs, parking facilities, local businesses, residential areas, tourist spots and cultural sites. More than 40% of the charging ports are planned for neighborhoods identified as disadvantaged.

"This grant will support efforts to increase access to EV charging in Burlington and will help break down barriers to EV ownership for Burlington residents," Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said in a statement.

USDOT grant makes possible a big step forward for sustainability goals

The Level 2 charging stations in Burlington will include both post-mounted and utility-pole mounted chargers to minimize their footprints as much as possible. There may also be both on-street and off-street parking spots with unrestricted public access.

The Level 3 fast chargers will likely be located mostly in off-street parking lots, again with unrestricted public access. Every charger installation will take future expansion into account and will be owned and operated by BED.

"This is a big step forward for Vermont's sustainability goals," Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, said in a statement. "It will make our transition to EV charging and electrification more equitable and accessible for all Vermonters who need a charge, as well as folks visiting Burlington."

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington will install 200 new EV charging stations over the next seven years