NEWS

Frost laws delay EV charger install

There are four EV chargers currently at WCC Health and Fitness Center (HFC). Along with the four at the HFC, there are EV chargers at the parking garage. Kaleb Wieland | The Washtenaw Voice

Sasha Hatinger | Staff Writer

Associate Vice President of Operations, Craig Whipstock shared updates on the current installation of Electric Vehicle chargers on Washtenaw Community College’s campus. Installing EV chargers is at a standstill with the current frost laws in place. Frost laws prevent cement trucks from driving on the roads in the winter, according to Whipstock.

According to previous Voice reporting, six new 40-amp chargers will be installed in front of the Morris J. Lawrence building (lot one) and eight-level two chargers behind the Crane Liberal Arts and Science Building (lots six and seven) within a budget of $306,280.

That budget is part of the Established Green Fund, created to subsidize anything supporting the green initiative. The cost of purchasing fleet EVs or electric riding lawnmowers would be part of the Established Green Fund.

Pouring the cement pads is the next step, Whipstock said. With the underground cabling complete, the cement pads will be poured, and transformers will be set, along with the control panels and the finalization of the process to complete installation of the EV chargers–once the frost laws are lifted.

“We’re hoping to have this done by the end of May, beginning of June,” Whipstock said.

Two charging stations will go in parking lots one, six and seven.

“Each charging station will charge two cars, we’re putting in two chargers [in each lot], which means we’ll be able to charge four cars,” Whipstock said.

Craig Whipstock, the associate vice president of operations, said in a previous article that the locations of the chargers were based on where college-owned facilities are kept. Kaleb Wieland | The Washtenaw Voice