Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency’s (SMMPA) member municipal utilities are committed to establishing an electric vehicle (EV) charging network to help facilitate the transition to EVs in Greater Minnesota. In 2020, participating members installed a DC Fast Charger and two dual-port level 2 chargers in each of their communities.
“This has been a great opportunity and an important first step to facilitate acceptance of electric vehicles, an amazing technology that will transform both the electric utility and transportation industries,” says Joe Hoffman, SMMPA’s Director of Agency and Government Relations and Chief External Affairs Officer.
Since 90 percent of EV charging typically occurs in the owner’s garage at night, when electric demand is low, Hoffman says utilities can generally handle that load without additional generation. However, the lack of public charging stations in most communities is a major barrier to consumers making the switch because of “range anxiety” – the fear they may not be able to reach distant destinations.
“Regardless of whether you are a small or large community, there is strength in numbers that creates economies of scale and sends a consistent message to our customers,” says Bruce Reimers, SMMPA Board President and New Prague Utilities Commission General Manager. “As a board, we felt it was critical to move forward together on this key initiative that will help our communities.”
SMMPA partnered with ZEF Energy, the largest independently owned and operated DC Fast Charging Network in Minnesota and Wisconsin. ZEF Energy was selected by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to install charging stations as part of the Volkswagen settlement.
“SMMPA is taking a market-leading approach,” says Matthew Blackler, CEO of ZEF Energy. “It is removing a major barrier to EV ownership by making charging and cross-state travel as convenient and accessible as possible.
The DC Fast Chargers provide EV owners with a quick charge when they are traveling longer distances. The Level 2 chargers provide a charging option for EV owners while they are shopping, dining at a restaurant or conducting other business in town.
“In the utility business, we think long-term,” Hoffman said. “A transformation begins with one step, and we are taking our first step today.”