NORTHAMPTON — DC Station, a new modern fueling complex to offer fast charging stations for electric vehicles, dining options and an EV learning center is set to open at 5 Fulton Ave. some time this October.
Developer Bruce Volz is behind the project that will provide 10 fast, level 3 charging ports for electric vehicles and a place for drivers to grab a fast cup of coffee or a meal while they wait for their charge.
The station — named DC for Direct Current — will also offer a learning hub, EV Base Camp, for the public to learn more about EVs and their offerings. The grounds will be landscaped with native plants to support local ecosystems and biodiversity. An array of solar panels will cover the charging stations to help defray the costs of the electricity.
“I’m a person who is concerned about the environment and wanted to do something that could have a direct impact,” said Volz, explaining he hopes to prove there is a need for a well-designed, efficient-to-operate, modern, electric fueling station that has dining options on site.
Volz told Reminder Publishing that since becoming an EV owner in 2016 he has grown to appreciate the problems that currently exist with the charging infrastructure. He explained currently there is a general need for more level 3 charging stations, the most efficient charger type currently in use.
Level 3 chargers are significantly faster chargers than the commonly found level 2 stations that have become the most common options available. Level 3 chargers can pull of a full charge in 30-90 minutes depending on the model, while level 2 chargers charge at a much slower rate, often needing multiple hours to fully charge a car’s optimal range.
“It doesn’t take long to figure out that that is not really going to cut it for somebody who doesn’t have home charging or is traveling,” said Volz, adding that in order for more people to feel comfortable with the switch to an EV they need the support of a more efficient charging infrastructure in their community.
A self-proclaimed believer in EV technology and having just sold a previous business, Volz said he has decided to invest his money in this effort to establish a new station meeting the growing needs of EV owners and communities looking to be environmentally minded.
The new station will be offering a total of 10 level 3 charging ports. Each charging station contains two charging ports for flexibility options depending on the make and model of the EV. Volz added the charging time through level 3 chargers varies depending on the output of the charger and what the capacity of the vehicle is, but overall, this new station will be offering the most efficient charging stations currently accessible.
“That was one of the big concerns. It started with me asking what would I want to see with a charging station and multiple ports is a big one,” said Volz. “It’s like a gas station, you don’t drive up to a gas station and they only have two options available. So, getting that so it’s reliable in terms of them functioning, as well as availability were two important factors.”
Volz continued, “My hope by putting in this charging station is that it will allow more people to buy EVs and reduce the whole range-anxiety thing. If you’re living in an apartment and don’t have access to a charger, it doesn’t really make sense to buy a full-on electric vehicle, unless you’ve got a lot of time or level 3 chargers. The hope is that through this station, it will help the community and the whole thing with EVs is it reduces CO2 emissions, which is significant.”
Volz said the other component making the opening of DC Station a unique and exciting project is the desire for the station to lease out spaces to restaurants and offer dining options for users of the charging stations.
Volz is currently still seeking potential tenants for DC Station to join this enterprise, in particular, a coffee house or café to serve customers from early morning to afternoon, and a casual restaurant, such as a pizza or taco house, that would be open until later in the evening.
Anyone interested in leasing should contact Volz’s realtor Ben Bolotin at Region Commercial in West Springfield at ben@regionco.com or 413-415-1200.
Arguably the most unique feature to this project though is the EV Base Camp that Volz is looking to establish with the station’s opening.
“The other thing we’re putting in is what I would call EV base camp, which is a place for the public to come and learn about EVs. Because there’s a lot of questions. What are the different levels of charging, and so, how do you find that and more out,” Volz explained. “So, the idea is to have a place where people can come and see what models are out there, what’s the charging situation, what is the difference between leasing and buying.”
Volz added he would also hope to work with local car dealers to have an EV of the week program where different EV’s are on the DC Station site to showcase and available for scheduled test drives.
“It’s not just the charging, it’s the education if we’re going to keep this happening,” Volz said. “As I got into this, I realized that it’s not just about providing a place to charge. It’s about how to educate or offer a place where people can get information who are thinking about EVs, or are just curious. It may make someone pursue it further and there’s a lot of used ones on the market now coming out of leases, so, what’s that look like?”
Volz said he is aiming for the station to open sometime in October as he continues to finalize what is needed to open the business. If successful, Volz believes this project could serve as an example for communities everywhere on effective ways of implementing these EV charging stations needed in communities looking to embrace the vehicles.
“I think some of my intent is that this would be a concept project and with it to prove the concept. What is possible — there’s solar on the roof, and there’s a solar canopies, so the idea is some of the electricity that is charging the vehicles is being generated on site, the building being efficient. Landscaping is working with native species and pollinators. The idea is to bring all of this together in one site and with that this could be a concept of how we approach projects like this.”
