The city of Passaic, which installed its first EV charging station back in 2019 at City Hall, has earned national recognition for its early adoption of electric vehicle charging stations.
Passaic now has three charging stations, as it installed another at the WIC Health Center on St Francis Way in 2021 and recently opened at third at Passaic’s brand-new parking deck at Benson Court.
Because these chargers are available to both the public and city employees, Passaic qualified for Electric Vehicle Adoption Leadership Certification and earned the Gold Level. EVAL, which is awarded by Forth Mobility and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, is dedicated to promoting EV charging at workplaces across the country.
Passaic’s charging stations have designated parking spots.
Passaic Mayor Hector Lora, who uses one for his Ford hybrid during working hours, said the city is thrilled to be recognized.
He also said Passaic is not done.
“Our goal is to gradually replace our gasoline-powered vehicles with electric ones, in line with New Jersey’s legislative commitment to end the purchase of new gas vehicles in the near future,” he said. “This transition will not only reduce the city’s carbon footprint but also lead to long-term cost savings in fuel and maintenance.”
Passaic has plans to install EVAL, which is similar to LEED ratings for buildings, recognizes municipalities, businesses and other organizations that take steps to support sustainable commuting. EZ Ride, one of New Jersey’s not-for-profit Transportation Management Associations, is facilitating the program in New Jersey as part of its EV Accelerator Program.
“The goal of our EV Accelerator Program is ultimately to increase the number of charging stations at workplaces across New Jersey by making the process as easy as possible,” EZ Ride CEO Krishna Murthy said.
Organizations do not need EV chargers in place to qualify for EVAL; they need only express interest in obtaining charging systems. Attaining EVAL certification is advantageous because it increases an organization’s chances of funding to install chargers. There are millions of dollars in statewide grants, utility rebates and tax credits available that can cover up to 90% of the cost.
EVAL’s application process takes less than 30 minutes and is currently free through the end of October. As of Nov. 1, there will be a fee that is yet to be determined.
