A brand new EV (Electric Vehicle) Charging Center is open and fully functional at Gilmer County’s Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center.

Members of Georgia Power along with Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim G. Echols cut the ribbon for the two stations early Friday morning, December 2. The ceremony also hosted members of the Board of Directors for the Chamber as well as Representatives from both Ellijay and East Ellijay.

The New Charging Center houses one “Level 2 Charger,” according to Brad Norman, Electric Transportation Market Specialist for Georgia Power, “which can charge an average EV in about three to four hours.” However, the second charger at the station is a 50k Watt DC Fast Charger. A newer system that can charge the same vehicle in roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Both stations will charge your vehicles on a similar cost as the DC Charger costs 25 cents a minute and the Level 2 Charger costs one dollar per hour. The level 2, Norman stated, will actually convert is costs to 10 cents a minute after the first three hours. This is set to encourage drivers not to linger at the stations so other drivers can make use of the two plugs on the station.

Additionally, a driver’s cost to “fill up” is managed through Georgia Power via a key tag drivers receive to manage and monitor their use. The tags can keep track of when and where you charge your car and deliver that information back to you, the driver, through an account set up online. This means you never even reach for your wallet as you charge your car. You simply scan your tag and leave your vehicle plugged in as you visit inside the Chamber or take the short walk to a local restaurant or shopping outlet.

While Norman chose not to comment on the exact costs of installing the two stations, he did indicate between a $50,000 and $100,000 investment made by Georgia Power enabled the stations as a part of partnering with the Gilmer Chamber. As part of the agreement, these stations are set to be 24 hour access everyday. Further, this places Gilmer County in the eye of EV Drivers across Georgia through connections such as PlugShare, a Mobile App that will locate charge stations and help travelers plan trips accordingly.

However, it is not just the initial cost that Georgia Power is investing as the power bill for the stations will also be paid by Georgia Power.

President of the Gilmer Chamber Paige Green also lauded the extra aid this will give to the Chamber as they continue to market our County stating, “It opens access to Gilmer County. There is already a community of these people who follow the announcements on new stations and the PlugShare App definitely helps.”

The addition of these charge stations not only expands access to Gilmer County for regular tourism, but makes us a part of Georgia Powers larger plan to “electrify the state” according to Norman. Georgia Power has already established 33 of the Community Charging Centers and plans on several more across Georgia to enable access through all the main corridors.

Cars like the Tesla and the Chevy Volt that were at the Stations today are just the beginning as Norman stated these stations allow and encourage what could eventually become a common option on all car models by 2020. The next step has to be making these model cars affordable to everyone, but before that is making the state accessible to these cars.

Green echoed the sentiment stating, “This trend is not going away, and this puts us in the front of it.” In fact, the stations have already been used three times in the last five days according to the PlugShare App. Green stated even on the very first day the station became active, they had a visitor come to charge up on the Fast Charger before heading to Gilmer’s Apple Houses.

Georgia Power Northwest Region Vice President Murry Weaver noted this DC Fast Charger is the first of it’s kind in Gilmer County, but also the first one on Highway 515. Weaver stated, “As we move forward, we continue to see more opportunities like this, and we think the collaborations between entities like us and the Gilmer Chamber will continue.”

Commissioner Echols also spoke a moment about how people who live here in North Georgia can get used to the views, the streams, trees, and mountains, but these people who drive the EV cars make a sacrifice to drive them. Careful plans must be made for trips to monitor locations for recharge and those plans can sometimes limit destinations. They must accept the inconvenience that they can’t drive to places like ours, until now.

 

 

 

Check out more by visiting Georgia Power’s #DriveElectric Campaign, watching the speeches of Georgia Power Northwest Region Vice President Murry Weaver, Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, and Gilmer Chamber President Paige Green below, or you can also read the Gilmer Chamber’s Official Statement and visit their Facebook Page for more on the EV Charging Stations:

The Gilmer Chamber is grateful for the opportunity  to partner with Georgia Power Company to bring the first DC fast charger to Gilmer County and the first one along the 515 corridor. With the addition of this charger, we have extended the range for EV motorists and have made travel between the metro communities and the North Georgia mountains possible. This is an infrastructure program that Georgia Power Company has entered into and is making charging your electric vehicles easier. Guests can stop at the Gilmer Chamber and fully charge their electric vehicle in 15-30 minutes. While waiting for their vehicle to charge, guests can visit our welcome center or dine at a nearby restaurants. If you own an electric vehicle you can use the PlugShare app to find this charging station along with other charging stations throughout the United States.

https://youtu.be/v8dXc6CZQy8