Oak Brook gains charging stations for electric cars

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Updated: January 30, 2012 10:20AM

Oak Brook trustees have agreed to install two new electric car charging stations within the village.

Trustees on Tuesday approved an agreement with 350 Green to install the stations at the Oak Brook Public Library and the Oak Brook Golf Club. The stations come at no cost to the village thanks to a federal grant.

“I’ve been getting communication from our residents saying maybe we should be one of the first movers in DuPage County,” Village President Gopal Lalmalani said of the station installation.

Chicago Sales Director Ken Adams said 350 Green will install and maintain the stations within the village while Oak Brook will garner 15 percent of the net revenue from the charging stations.

Adams estimates 7,000 electric vehicles are on the road in the Chicago area. He said the number is expected to rise to 70,000 vehicles next year and predicts nearly 1 million electric cars in the area by 2013.

“It’s not the 1980s when the electric vehicle died,” Adams said. “It’s here. It’s coming. They’re not on the drawing board. They’re in pre-production. We’re looking for early adopters who want to make a statement on sustainability.”

Adams said bollards protect the units and would shut off if struck by a vehicle.

“A lot of thought was put into the design and safety of the charging stations,” Adams said. “They’re 450 volts. Not something you can take lightly.”

The library will receive a level three fast charger, taking 28 minutes to charge an electric car battery. The golf course will have a level two slower charger installed, taking up to 90 minutes to charge a battery.

Electric car owners purchase a home charging kit with their vehicle and can buy a subscription to area charging stations. Adams estimated the costs to be $3 for the longer charge and $6 for the faster charge service at the library.

The company had talked to General Growth Properties about placing the stations at the Oakbrook Center Mall, but could not reach an agreement. Both Adams and trustees would like to see stations at the mall, where an electric auto dealership, Tesla Motors, recently opened up.

Trustee Stelios Aktipis abstained from voting Tuesday and voiced his concerns over the stations.

“Would we really want to change our library and golf course to something similar to a gas station?” he said. “I don’t want to have rows of cars parked and charging over there.”

The remaining five trustees Tuesday voted yes to the motion. The agreement is for seven years and can be terminated by the village with a 90-day notice and by paying 350 Green the amortized costs of installing the stations.