The Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment is celebrating the installation of three new Level 2 dual port electric vehicle charging stations (also known as electric vehicle supply equipment or EVSE) in the main parking lot of their North Little Rock headquarters.
The Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment (or E&E) works to provide effective and efficient energy and environmental solutions. The Department promotes responsible management of resources and protects the environment for Arkansans.
Each of the public Level 2 chargers can charge two vehicles at the same time and provide between 25 and 40 miles of electric range per hour. Level 2 EV charging is ideal for instances where drivers are doing something else, such as working or attending meetings or education sessions.
After going through Arkansas’ competitive bidding process, Today’s Power, Inc., also of North Little Rock, was granted the contract to provide and install the chargers.
Today’s Power, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., a Little Rock-based utility service cooperative owned by 17 Arkansas electric distribution cooperatives.
“We want to encourage more use of electric vehicles. Having infrastructure in place is crucial to expanding the adoption of EVs,” said Today’s Power President Michael Henderson. “We are delighted to partner with the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment on this initiative, which serves as a model for expanding EV infrastructure and fleet utilization in Arkansas,” Henderson added.
E&E will use a federal State Energy program to cover the costs of the chargers and will not seek reimbursement for the chargers through the Level 2 EVSE Rebate Program – which is funded through the Volkswagen Settlement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but E&E Cabinet Secretary Becky W. Keogh encourages other state agencies,
municipalities, and businesses in Arkansas to do so.
“Arkansas’s electric vehicle charging rebate program has been a massive success this year, with over fifty chargers installed and operating across the state,” said Keogh. “E&E plans to launch the second phase of the program in January 2022 with an additional $215,000 in funding. These are important steps to make Arkansas EV ready. We encourage others to join us
in expanding our transportation infrastructure to welcome those who choose electric vehicles to live, work, and visit in Arkansas!”
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