EV Charging

On this page, we intend to keep you informed about our plans to have electric vehicle (EV) charging stations installed in Peterborough's Riverwalk Parking Lot.

PEC member Bruce Tucker happily tries out Peterborough's new ChargeLab EV charging station on March 31st, 2022 while EV owner and Select Board member Bill Kennedy looks on.

Photo by Emily Manns

Photo by Meghan Pierce. In front, L to R, Dori Drachman (Cochair of Monadnock Sustainability Hub), Anne Huberman, Emily Manns (Chair of PEC). In back, Jim Hassinger, Bill Kennedy (Select Board Liaison), Seth MacLean (DPW Director), Bruce Tucker, Steve Walker, Joel Huberman

May 6, 2022, our Drive Electric Expo was a great success! See this article in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript.

April 4, 2022, Peterborough unveils charging stations for electric vehicles. See this article in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript.

March 31, 2022, the Peterborough Department of Public Works completed the installation of the EVSE charging stations, and they were activated. On April 1, PEC members gathered at the site, charged two EVs, and celebrated the completion of the project. Read the newspaper article about this celebration and then join us in the Riverwalk parking lot May 6th at 5:30 for a public celebration.

July 2021, the Select Board approved a plan for EVSE charging stations in the RiverWalk Parking Lot presented by Seth MacLean. Installation, expected by October, 2021, was delayed until early 2022 because of supply chain issues.

August 2020, PEC provides Select Board with a side-by-side comparison of three Level 2 EVSE charging options for the Riverwalk Parking Lot.

July 2020, voters in Peterborough support EV charging:

  • "ARTICLE 14. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS IN THE RIVERWALK PARKING LOT - $35,000 – BY PETITION To see if the Town will vote to allocate a sum of up to Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000) from the Greater Downtown Tax Incremental Finance (GDTIF) funds to be used for the installation, operation, and maintenance of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in the Riverwalk Parking lot. Implementation of this Article will draw funds from an established account and not increase or otherwise affect the Peterborough tax rate. Both the GDTIF Advisory and Economic Development Authority support this Article. By petition. The Select Board recommends this appropriation by a vote of 2-1 The Budget Committee does not recommend this appropriation by a vote of 4-4. Yes 505 No 328

EV Charging FAQ

The Peterborough Energy Committee is worked on a proposal to bring electric vehicle (EV) charging to Peterborough. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

1. EVs are less than 2% of the cars on the road, so why do we need EV charging in Peterborough in 2020?

  • EVs are a quickly growing fraction of new car sales, with new models from all car companies being introduced every year. The number of EVs on the road and the need for charging infrastructure is growing quickly.

  • There is a gap between Keene and Milford for EV charging infrastructure, as shown in this map from Plugshare:

  • Having a presence on popular EV charging maps will attract EV owners to Peterborough. EV drivers now make choices about where to stop and where to stay depending on charging availability. Having no charging facilities puts downtown businesses at a disadvantage, especially if charging becomes available nearby but not within easy walking distance.

2. Is there state funding for EV charging infrastructure?

  • Possibly, and Peterborough has registered our interest and shovel-ready municipal location for state funding should it become available. Currently there is a proposal to select eight charging sites in New Hampshire along six strategic highway corridors including 101 west of Manchester. Each site would receive two fast (level 3) chargers as well as two medium-speed (level 2) chargers. In the absence of state funding, current plans call for installation of four level 2 chargers.

3. Who will use the downtown chargers?

  • Everyone! This is an amenity for occasional and regular visitors and residents to increase downtown visibility, foot traffic, good will and vitality. Anyone who might browse, shop, work, eat, stay, or attend events including concerts and movies.

  • Downtown employers could also use the chargers as an amenity for attracting a wider geographic pool of qualified applicants as employees.

4. How will use be monitored?

  • All use will be subject to regular town rules on parking and also appropriate EV parking/charging rules that will maximize availability to visitors. Rules will be indicated with signs and monitored for excess use if necessary.

5. Where else might EV chargers be located in town?

  • EV charging at larger businesses also makes sense. Overnight accommodations are increasingly investing in EV charging infrastructure. Also any business with employees, patients, clients or browsers that spend more than half an hour at the location could benefit from an EV charging investment as a marketing opportunity as well as a valuable amenity for employees and clients. It is well documented that EV drivers factor availability of charging into their destination and employment choices. Proximity to downtown will be a specific benefit to downtown businesses.

6. What are the next steps?

  • A petition warrant article to release funding approved for EV downtown charging by the Greater Downtown TIF District passed at the July 14 Town Meeting. State funding and other possible funding sources are also being explored and would reduce the amount needed to install the project, anticipated summer 2020.

  • In early 2021, Seth MacLean, Peterborough’s Director of Public Works, took over the project; with advice from the Peterborough Energy Committee, did a thorough investigation of possible vendors.

  • On July 6, 2021, the Peterborough Select Board approved the plan Seth presented. ChargeLab will be the vendor. We expect to have a completed installation by early 2022.

  • Chargers were installed and activated on March 27th, 2022.