Fastest EV Charging Stations Now Available At Batavia High School

BATAVIA, IL — Students, staff and visitors who drive electric vehicles will now be able to charge them while at Batavia High School.

Four new Level 3 chargers are available for public use at the high school, located at 1201 Main St. Also known as superchargers, the Level 3 categorization indicates they're the fastest and most powerful type of EV charger, capable of fully recharging a car's battery in under an hour.

They're the first Level 3 chargers within Batavia, according to a news release from Batavia Public Schools District 101 and the City of Batavia. A second installation is planned at the Batavia Public Library.

The school and library projects cost about $575,000. Funding was covered in part by a $320,000 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Driving a Cleaner Illinois Grant administered under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, while non-grant expenses were covered by the Batavia Electric Utility. The grant supports the installation and maintenance of public EV charging stations.

The city partnered with M3 Electrical Contracting for the work.

"The City has seen an increase in home EV charging permits in the past two years, and now we are pleased to offer Level 3 charging for residents and visitors," Steve Allen, superintendent of the Batavia Electric Utility, said in a statement. "Receiving the IEPA grant was instrumental in allowing the City to move forward on our strategic plan goals and promote vehicle electrification."

Batavia High School was selected because the site met grant eligibility, officials said. Under a site host agreement, the city managed the installation and will oversee the operation and maintenance of the charging stations, while the school district will maintain the parking spaces.

"The District was pleased to support the City of Batavia by making space available at the high school campus for the EV charging station project," said Mark Anderson, director of operations for District 101. It's a strong example of how intergovernmental cooperation can lead to practical, community-focused solutions without incurring additional costs to the District."

The cost is $0.50 per kWh, payable by app or card reader. Within 30-45 minutes, cars will be fully charged. After charging is completed, drivers have a 30-minute grace period before a $1-per-minute fee applies, up to 120 minutes.