The City of Jacksonville has opened its first electric vehicle charging stations at City Hall!
Now residents and visitors with electric vehicles can top off their batteries while visiting downtown Jacksonville. The two stations are in the City Hall parking lot and are ready to use with the OpConnect smartphone app. We’re excited to see people use the stations and visit City Hall, or stop by the square to get a taste of Jacksonville’s downtown offerings.
Even if you’re not big on battery power in your vehicles, there are reasons to be upbeat about the new stations.
For one, the charge stations will draw visitors who may not have previously considered Jacksonville. We’re among a rising tide of Alabama cities offering charging stations in response to the recent, rapid growth of the electric vehicle market in the state. Last year there were about 15,000 electric vehicles registered to Alabama drivers and 822 publicly available charging stations, according to Alabama Political Reporter. The State of Alabama expects that to reach 20,000 this year when combining battery electric and hybrid vehicles. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs says in its 2024 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan that it expects the number to continue growing, and fast.
For another, ADECA has also seen charging stations create an impact on local economics and city recognition. People love to post about the places they visit on social media, and those with electric vehicles are no exception. And hey, if you’re going to hang out for an hour anyway, why not get tacos, cupcakes, coffee or shop with our retailers and share some photos of the adventure online?
Finally, OpConnect will receive a small portion of the proceeds from the stations, while the rest will go to the City of Jacksonville, which will lead to new revenue that can contribute to city programs for our taxpayers. Check out the ADECA plan at https://adeca.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/Alabama-Electric-Vehicle-Infrastructure-Plan.pdf for more info.
