Effective July 1, 2024, the Maryland General Assembly authorized the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Workgroup. The Workgroup is tasked with developing a framework for reliability and reporting standards for electric vehicle charging stations, studying and making recommendations regarding which government entities have responsibility for ensuring accountability for charging stations, and making recommendations on adopting and implementing regulations. The EVSE Workgroup held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Chaired by the Maryland Public Service Commission, the Workgro ..read more

Frustration at the Curbside in Baltimore City Which is worse, a broken charger or arriving and finding it “ICEd“—blocked by a gas vehicle? I recently encountered a bit of both at a curbside charging spot on Washington Boulevard near Carroll Park in Baltimore City. When I arrived there on a weekday afternoon, I discovered that out of the four available spots, two were blocked by ICE vehicles. To make matters worse, the two remaining spots had non-operational chargers. Of course, the spots by the functioning EVSE were the ones that were ICEd. Murphy’s law, I suppose. It felt like a double whamm ..read more

Testifying for Maryland House Bill 1028 establishing the EVSE Workgroup. New EVSE Workgroup Established by Maryland Legislature to Study Reliability Issues The Maryland legislature recently passed, and Governor Wes Moore signed into law, SB951/HB1028, establishing the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Workgroup. This Workgroup has been tasked with developing a framework for reliability and reporting standards for EV charging stations. Additionally, the Workgroup will study and make recommendations regarding which government entities should ensure accountability for EV charging stations ..read more

Shell Recharge EV Charging at Glenwood Library – Cooksville, MD If you’re driving through Glenwood, Cooksville, or Inwood, Maryland, and need to top up your electric vehicle, the Shell Recharge EV charging station at Glenwood Library could be a good option. This BGE EVsmart station offers two 50 kW Tritium DC fast chargers and three dual-port Level 2 EVSEs, providing flexibility for either a quick charge or a longer stay. The pricing is straightforward: fast charging costs $0.32/kWh plus a 6% Maryland state sales tax, while Level 2 charging is priced at $0.17/kWh plus tax. It’s worth noting t ..read more

Since 2017, the One Merriweather Parking Garage near Merriweather Post Pavilion has offered Level 2 charging for electric vehicles. Originally free, these ChargePoint stations have become increasingly popular, with all 12 spots often occupied during office hours. However, recent changes mean drivers will need to consider the cost when plugging in. New Pricing Structure The Howard Hughes Corporation, which manages the garage, has implemented a new fee for the use of these charging stations. The cost is now set at $2.35 per hour of charging. While this marks the end of free charging, it raises ..read more

Did you know that Elon Musk got stranded on a Tesla road trip in 2014? A sudden blizzard near Mount Rushmore forced him and his family to seek refuge – and a charge – in the small town of Custer, South Dakota. As luck would have it, a neon sign at the Rocket Motel advertising vacancies caught his eye. Elon and his entourage pulled in to the Rocket for the night and set about to find a place to charge the cars. Fortunately, Dave Ressler, the head of the local Chamber of Commerce at the time (and brother-in-law to an early Tesla enthusiast, Rod Hoffman from Denver), came to the rescue. Dave hel ..read more

Hollinswood Shopping Center EV Charging in Baltimore, MD. Located at 2157 W Patapsco Ave. This DC Fast Charger operated by EVgo is in the north east section of the parking lot, along W Patapsco Ave by the Advance Auto Parts store. There are several food options in the shopping center including Popeyes and Sonic. Location Address: 2157 W Patapsco Ave #2946, Baltimore, MD 21230 County: Baltimore City Facility Type: Parking Lot Coordinates: 39.25072, -76.64408 Directions: In parking lot for Hollinswood Shopping Center, along the northern edge near Advance Auto Parts. Map Link: OpenStreetMap ..read more

New Jersey Bill S3102 Approved by the Governor: 1/16/2024. New Jersey bill S3102 Establishes uptime requirement for electric vehicle charging station incentive programs. This statute directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a requirement, as a condition of providing any incentive for the installation of electric vehicle service equipment pursuant to P.L.2019, c.362 (C.48:25-1 et seq.) or any other State law, that the station is operational at least 97 percent of the time, as measured on an annual basis. The law also directs the BPU to develop and implement a process to establi ..read more

Economic Matters Committee – March 6, 2024 The following is a transcript of my testimony to the Maryland Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1028, “Business Regulation – Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment – Regulations for Retail Use.” This legislation would require the Comptroller to adopt regulations for the retail use of electric vehicle supply equipment in the State that include requiring an uptime of 97% and establishing civil penalties for non-compliance with the regulations. To build trust in electric vehicles, reliable charging and transparent pricing are essential. Good aft ..read more

Potomac Edison owned and operated EV charging station at Shafer Park in Boonsboro, MD. Located a few blocks from the main street, this Level 2 ChargePoint station is a short walk from dining, coffee and downtown shops. Stop here for a boost on your trip along the Old National Pike (Rt. 40). Location Address: 60 Park Drive, Boonsboro, Maryland 21713 County: Washington Facility Type: Public Park Coordinates: 39.50707, -77.65561 Directions: In the parking lot at the southern side of Shafer Park on Park Drive. Map Link: OpenStreetMap Technical Connector Type: J1772 Power & Qty: 6.6 kW, x ..read more