EV CHARGING STATIONS

Case Study: Convenient EV Charging for Apartment Residents

Flemington Borough, Hunterdon County

OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGES 
The “It Pay$ to Plug In” program provides grants to businesses, governments, non-profit organizations, multi family residences, and educational institutions to offset the cost of purchasing electric vehicle charging stations. The program is designed to expand New Jersey’s growing network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, allowing residents, businesses, and government agencies to purchase and drive electric vehicles without worrying about a place to charge.

The program is particularly valuable for multi-family residences, where both potential and current tenants are increasingly requesting on-site charging stations. Many residents find that public charging stations are often occupied and have long wait times. By supporting the installation of EV chargers, property owners can meet the rising demand, enhance tenant satisfaction, contribute to reducing air pollution and mitigate climate change impacts.

PARTNERS
DEP and Raritan Town Square LLC.

ACTION 
Raritan Town Square LLC purchased and installed 6 dual-port Level 2 EV charging stations in 2023 at The Residences at Raritan Town Square, a multi-unit dwelling in Flemington. They were reimbursed $44,121 through the “It Pay$ to Plug In” grant program. The reimbursement was for the total cost of the charging stations. The rest of the funding for the project was paid for by the Property Management as installation costs was not covered by the grant program. The chargers are open to residents/tenants of the property in which they pay $.18/kWh to charge their vehicles. The increase in electric vehicle drivers in New Jersey and the need for apartment complexes to include this service as part of their amenities is what motivated this project.

FUNDING/RESOURCES 
The reimbursement program reduces the cost of purchasing and maintaining Level 1, Level 2 and Direct Current (DC) Fast Charging stations at qualifying locations including public, workplace, and multi-unit dwellings. Public and private entities may participate in the program.  For Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, both publicly accessible chargers and restricted use chargers are eligible. For DC Fast Chargers, only publicly accessible chargers that are open 24/7 year round are eligible.

Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis for Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, and as part of a competitive process for DC Fast Chargers. Eligible costs include the costs of the charging stations, associated delivery and activation fees, warranty, maintenance agreement and network subscription for up to five years, and a leasing contract (if necessary). The following are not eligible costs: make-ready, installation, purchase or rental of real estate, other capital costs (e.g., construction of buildings, parking facilities, etc.) or general maintenance (i.e., maintenance other than of the charging equipment). Upon completion of work in accordance with the eligibility criteria and grant agreement requirements, DEP will reimburse each applicant for eligible costs, up to a maximum of: • Level 1: $750 per Level 1 charging port; • Level 2: $4,000 per Level 2 charging port. Reimbursement amounts for DC Fast Chargers range from $75,000 – $200,000 per location based on the power level of the chargers and whether they are located on government or private property.

For more information on how to apply for a grant from It Pay$ to Plug In, go to  DEP| Drive Green NJ | It Pays to Plug In

To be notified about competitive solicitations for DC Fast Chargers, sign up for the Stop The Soot mailing list at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NJDEP/subscriber/new?topic_id=NJDEP_195

For information about utility incentives for EV charging, visit https://njdepwptest.net/wp-content/uploads/drivegreen/ippi/utilitysummary.pdf

If you have questions about this program, send an email to Drivegreen@dep.nj.gov.

RESULTS & BENEFITS 
Owners of electric cars can now use the charging station at The Residences at Raritan Town Square. Since the advertisement and installment of charging stations at the property, there has been an increase in tenants with electric vehicles moving into their units. EVs dramatically reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality for everyone. EVs are a key part of any efforts to reduce emissions and boost economic activity.