| Granite City's Bob Cook shows off the store's new free charging station.Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip |
A light bulb recently went on among officials at Granite City Electric Supply Co.
The Quincy-based business started seeing interest from its contractor customers in electrical vehicle charging stations. The company, with offices throughout New England, sells lighting and electric devices.
So about six months ago, Granite City decided to start selling the commercial-grade stations.
"It's a great complimentary product to have today," said Bob Cook, head of the company's energy operations. "It's a natural progression to have us in."
The company took things a step further recently by installing the devices for public use in Plymouth and Quincy. This week, it expects to have its South Yarmouth charging station up and running.
The charging stations can be used by any model hybrid or electrical vehicle. They are currently free for the public to use.
Cook said the roughly 50-pound device fully charges a depleted battery in four to six hours.
As a new wave of electrical vehicles has hit the road, there is a growing need for charging units away from the driver's home, said Richard Elrick, vice president of Cape and Islands Self Reliance and energy coordinator for the towns of Barnstable and Bourne.
The state announced last July it planned on installing 105 electric vehicle charging stations in 25 cities and towns, including Nantucket, Falmouth and Barnstable.
Barnstable received four stations but is trying to lower the price of installation, Elrick said. So far, the town has received estimates of $3,500 to $7,000 per installation.
"We are finding the costs a little bit higher then anticipated," he said.
The town still hopes to have the stations operating by this summer, at Barnstable Town Hall, Barnstable High School, near Barnstable Superior Court and at the North Street Comfort Station, which are public bathrooms and parking at the corner of North Street and Bassett Lane.
The stations would be free to the public to start, he said. If demand increases, there could eventually be a small fee, he said.
"For three or four hours, they can get a quick charge," he said.
Cook, at Granite City, said the move could help bring the company more customers and help them sell the devices.
"I'm very energetic about it," Cook said. "I think it's going to be something very needed and important."
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