Thurmont Municipal Workplace Charging Funded by Maryland Charge Ahead Grant Program

In a significant stride toward electrified mobility Thurmont, Maryland, has recently installed Level 2 workplace charging stations at two locations—the Municipal Office and Police Headquarters.

Support for EV Adoption

Convenient access to charging at workplaces can encourage employees to consider purchasing an electric car, especially those without access to home charging, such as individuals residing in apartments, condos or townhouses. Installing more workplace EV charging stations is one of the most effective ways to support the adoption of electric vehicles.

This electric vehicle charging installation was made possible through the Maryland Charge Ahead Grant Program (CAGP), an initiative funded as part of the Volkswagen settlement.

There is one single-port EV charging station located at the Thurmont Municipal Office at 615 East Main Street. A posted sign indicates that the charging space is reserved for town office staff only.

A Chevy Bolt EUV with a town emblem on the door was parked in the spot when I visited Thurmont last weekend.

Signage

There is another Level 2 station with a single port located behind the Thurmont Police Department. These EVSEs are both ChargePoint Home Flex units. The signs at both locations state, “electric vehicle charging only” in addition to indicating that the spaces are reserved parking for staff.

The project requirements for signs in the Guidelines for Maryland Charge Ahead Grant Program state:

Signage
In order to enable EV drivers to locate and identify charging sites, the project shall include signage which shall be displayed on the grounds of the project site(s) as follows:
● General Requirements: Signage complies with all applicable local, state, and/or federal laws, ordinances, regulations, and standards.
● On-Site: Clearly identifies the location(s) of the charging stations. On-site signage should identify parking is reserved for electric vehicles only.

The Police Department charging station is in the rear of the headquarters at 800 E Main St, Thurmont, MD 21788.

Maryland Charge Ahead Grant Program

The Thurmont charging sites were awarded grants of $1,388.40 each according to the Maryland Department of the Environment which administers the Charge Ahead Grant Program.

The Maryland Charge Ahead Grant Program is funded through the Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement, with Maryland receiving an allocation of $75.6 million from the settlement. Approximately 15% of this amount is designated for the installation of light-duty EV Service Equipment.

Implemented in three phases, the first round of the CAGP allocates $642,942 for establishing 74 workplace charging stations, providing a total of 145 ports across 24 locations. For a more in-depth understanding of CAGP funding and its strategic execution, consult the Maryland Volkswagen Mitigation Plan.