The city is looking to add electric vehicle charging stations to the Orillia Recreation Centre parking lot.
During Monday’s council committee meeting, staff were directed to partner with Ontario Charging Network LP (Ivy) to install, maintain and operate two dual Level 2 charging stations at the West Street South property.
The city will pay an annual fee of $8,000 for 10 years.
Ivy, which recently approached staff about the partnership, requires the annual fee to recoup costs associated with installation and maintenance. It also has a number people can call 24 hours a day to report issues and ask questions, noted Renee Recoskie, the city’s manager of property and environmental sustainability.
The city is responsible for the electricity costs associated with charging, but the revenue is expected to offset those costs, she said.
Coun. Ralph Cipolla asked about putting charging stations in Municipal Lot 5, which is often full, as well as at the city’s public works yard to encourage more staff to drive electric vehicles.
“One of the challenges we faced when presenting this report … is the timing,” Recoskie said.
If the partnership with Ivy is to happen, an agreement must be reached by the end of June. The charging stations would be in place by late 2021 or early 2022.
A new owner of an electric vehicle, Coun. David Campbell, was on board with the idea.
“You really do think about planning where you’re going based on charging stations,” he said, adding having them at the rec centre, close to downtown, could be an economic benefit if people shop while their vehicles are charging.
Coun. Jay Fallis asked if staff had explored potential partnerships with companies other than Ivy and whether the city can work with others during the 10-year partnership.
“In 10 years, we could have a hundred charging stations in different municipal lots,” he said.
Recoskie said the partnership only pertains to the two stations at the rec centre.
Staff did look at a couple of other options, “but this is a turnkey solution,” she said, adding Ivy can get a discount on charging stations because of the amount it is purchasing to cater to other municipalities.
Council committee’s decision will be up for ratification at the next regular meeting of council.
