Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
MELROSE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Melrose was the first city on the east coast to have pole-mounted electric vehicle chargers and just two years after the first charger was installed, the city now has nearly a dozen across the community.
These charging stations were first installed through a pilot program through National Grid back in 2021, and are equipped with a 25-foot charging cable that descends from the pole. They're incredibly simple to use, all you have to do is scan the QR code, answer a couple of questions, and you’re all set to charge.
Melrose sustainability manager Martha Grover said these specific pole-mounted chargers are easier to maintain than the traditional ground-mounted chargers.
“They’re placed 10-feet up off the ground so away from snowplows, out of reach of anybody who wants to vandalize chargers, and easy to attach,” said Grover.
These charging cables are newer and cheaper than your standard ground-mounted charger. Regardless of which type of charging station you use, the price to charge is $0.20/kWh.
With more than 29,000 residents and just 11 chargers, the city charges a $5 idle fee after three hours of use, with the goal of encouraging drivers to give others a turn.
WBZ's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports:
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