Electric Avenue

ST. MARYS - Charging stations for electric vehicles were installed Thursday in St. Marys, a move city officials hope will make the area more appealing to day trippers and puts the city in line with a growing number of municipalities installing electric vehicle chargers to meet demand.

Last month, city law director Zach Ferrall and manager of industrial and community development Mike Burkholder discussed plans to install destination chargers for electric vehicles in the area of the St. Marys Shopping Square on Indiana Avenue. The chargers, which are reportedly compatible with virtually all electric vehicles in use, are intended to be used for a few hours or even overnight, according to Ferrall.

Officials hoped the chargers would entice electric vehicle drivers off the highway and into the community. ChargePoint, an American electric vehicle infrastructure company, would allow officials to monitor how much chargers are used and when they are used. Depending on if the chargers are used frequently and considered a success, more may be added around the city at a later date.

The demand in the U.S. for electric vehicles - and the infrastructure to support them, like charging stations - has increased, and that growth is expected to continue. An Energy Storage Market Report released in December 2020 by the U.S. Department of Energy found the growth in adoption of electric vehicles in recent years was expected to continue, as incentives for consumers remain in place and manufacturers increase production.

Several manufacturers serving the auto industry have announced increased investments in electric vehicle manufacturing in 2021. A Kentucky Firestone Industrial Products plant announced a $51 million project that would add 250 jobs to a rural area tied to an increase in electric vehicle production. Ford CEO Jim Farley has stated he feels electric vehicle demand will revolutionize the industry, and the company has been promoting the new F-150 Lightning, the first all-electric F-150. Ford also reportedly plans to manufacture electric vehicle batteries.

According to information provided by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, electric vehicle sales - for hybrids, battery electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles - reached a record high monthly volume in March. Last year marked the fifth consecutive year of growth in electric vehicle sales, and sales for this year are reportedly on track to surpass 2020.