LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Michigan has more than 40,000 registered electric vehicles (EVs). As the number grows, the number of charging stations must grow too.
Consumers Energy is working to boost the number of EV chargers by providing a $7,500 rebate to small businesses that decide to install just one in their parking lots.
“The idea is that if you have an electric vehicle and you want to get some power during the day while you’re at your office, the place where you work, we want to encourage employers to over that,” said Brian Wheeler, a spokesperson with Consumers Energy.
The goal of the program is to give EV owners a chance to charge their vehicles at work.
Wheeler hopes this will attract more people to work in Michigan.
“We think this is going to be a good tool to recruit people who want to work at businesses here in Michigan, as well as promote more adoption of electric vehicles,” said Wheeler.
The city of East Lansing currently has eight charging stations in downtown parking garages. Landon Bartley, East Lansing’s principal planner, thinks more EV charging stations will benefit businesses on a customer level.
“It’s a nice amenity for a customer that happens to be driving an EV, that while they’re in the store, they can take their time, they can plug in outside before they come in, and feel comfortable staying in for a little bit longer, perhaps purchasing more,” said Bartley.
This program is expected to help around 500 workplace chargers come into place.
To be eligible for the program, a business must be a customer of Consumers Energy and a small business.
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