Should Western Springs Install Electric-Car Charging Stations?

Western Springs trustees discussed the possibility of installing electric-car charging stations around town Monday night, but it seems they likely won’t be popping up any time soon.

The item was on the Western Springs Board of Trustees workshop meeting agenda after the board’s General Government Committee talked about charging stations at the behest of a resident who had inquired about whether the village had considered them.

“It could be a money maker, but it’s hard to measure whether that would be the case or not because we don’t know how many people drive pure electric vehicles up and down Wolf Road or anywhere in the vicinity,” trustee Alice Gallagher said. “So it’s hard to judge.”

Gallagher said grants are available to cover a portion of costs related to installing the stations.

The committee-level discussion ended with the stations becoming a back-burner item.

“Really it didn’t come to any conclusion other than we might want to revisit this again in a few months,” Gallagher said.

Village President William Rodeghier said during Monday’s discussion he thinks electric charging stations do seem to be the future, and that though electric vehicles are not yet a worthwhile investment, the village should be thinking about including electric-only vehicles in its fleet.

“I don’t know if the capital cost of such a venture would justify its use, but I think those are the kinds of things that are worth exploring,” Rodeghier said.

Village manager Patrick Higgins said the village has been exploring the idea of purchasing electric vehicles. 

Would you like to see electric-car charging stations pop up around town, or is it too early for that investment to pay off? Tell us in the comments!

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