Northampton plans fleet DC fast chargers, seeks funds to replace aging public chargers and studies on‑street locations

Marissa Elkins, committee member, gave a staff update that the city will install four DC fast chargers at the roundhouse lot; for the near term those fast chargers will serve city fleet vehicles only.

"We do have 4 fast chargers coming to the roundhouse lot right out outside the, but the Department of Health, that is going to result in some complex, musical chairs with people's assigned parking spaces and I'm attempting to organize that with parking," Elkins said. She said vehicles arriving this week will include a new Nissan Leaf for the motor pool, with further EVs arriving over the next two weeks and the planned sale of three older vehicles to offset costs.

Elkins said the city is applying for additional MassEVIP funds — described in the meeting as funds stemming from the Volkswagen settlement — to replace aging ChargePoint Level 2 chargers that have had connectivity and reliability problems. "We are working with a company to, basically apply on our behalf for additional mass EVIP funds, which basically come from the settlement with Volkswagen from years ago, to get for us free of charge to the city, replacements for the older any older level 2 chargers," she said.

The city has a separate Leidos‑funded feasibility study and survey to identify sensible on‑street EV charging locations, with a priority on placing chargers near public and low‑income housing. "There is a survey. So we, we've got a grant for a feasibility study that is being done by Leidos, to assess the best possible locations for on street EV charging," Elkins said, and asked commissioners to help distribute the survey for public input.

Elkins also reported a soft rollout of two e‑cargo bikes for the city motor pool and two commuter e‑bikes arriving soon for staff who travel in pairs. "The health inspectors love them. They've been driving out to do all their inspections on the bikes," she said. Staff discussed possible use of Valley Bike for some employees; the meeting recorded membership costs as $25 per month for regular membership and $4 per month for an equity pass. "Regular membership is $25 a month, but for access equity pass members are $4 a month," a speaker said.

No formal votes or contract awards were taken at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to circulate the Leidos survey and to follow up with details on MassEVIP grant applications, public charger replacements, and motor‑pool vehicle sales and replacements.