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Since 2017, the One Merriweather Parking Garage near Merriweather Post Pavilion has offered Level 2 charging for electric vehicles. Originally free, these ChargePoint stations have become increasingly popular, with all 12 spots often occupied during office hours. However, recent changes mean drivers will need to consider the cost when plugging in.
New Pricing Structure
The Howard Hughes Corporation, which manages the garage, has implemented a new fee for the use of these charging stations. The cost is now set at $2.35 per hour of charging. While this marks the end of free charging, it raises the question of whether this is a competitive rate compared to other charging options in the area.
An idle fee has also been implemented to encourage drivers to move their vehicles once charging is complete. The “Station Time Rate” is $0.00 per hour while actively charging but jumps to $10.00 per hour (about $0.17 per minute) 60 minutes after charging stops. This idle fee is designed to ensure that the charging stations are available to as many EV drivers as possible by discouraging occupation of the charging spaces by vehicles that are no longer charging.
Impact on Charging Economics
The dual port CT4020 ChargePoint stations at One Merriweather share power between two connectors. When a single vehicle is connected, it can receive up to 6.6 kW. However, if a second vehicle plugs into the same post, the power output is halved, providing each vehicle with only 3.3 kW. This shared power arrangement affects the economics of the time-based fee, resulting in a higher cost per kWh when sharing the station.
For instance, a vehicle receiving 6.6 kW will get approximately 6.6 kWh in one hour of charging, costing $2.35. This results in a cost of about $0.36 per kWh. If sharing, each vehicle would get approximately 3.3 kWh in one hour, also at a cost of $2.35, which results in a cost of about $0.71 per kWh. This effectively means that the cost per kWh is higher when sharing the station.
Context and Comparison
In a previous post from March 2020, “40 Charging Ports at Merriweather District in Columbia, MD,” I reported the installation of a large number of EV charging stations in the Merriweather District Garage which is about a half mile south east of the One Merriweather Garage. Both garages are run by the Howard Hughes Corporation. At the present time, charging remains free at the Merriweather District Garage.
Other nearby charging options include the 14 Volta charging stations at The Mall in Columbia, which are free for up to two hours, and six BGE-operated stations at the Central Branch of the Howard County Library, costing $0.18 per kWh (including tax). The introduction of a $2.35 per hour fee at One Merriweather makes it somewhat of an outlier among these existing nearby options. The $10.00 per hour idle fee is unique among the other nearby charging options.
Conclusion
The introduction of a fee for using the Level 2 EV charging stations at One Merriweather Parking Garage marks an inevitable phase in the evolution of EV infrastructure in Columbia, MD. While the cost is no longer free, the pricing may have overshot the mark.
A fee based on energy consumed that is in the range of $0.18 to $0.20 per kWh would perhaps be more appropriate, especially considering the pricing of other nearby charging stations. The idle fee is probably a necessary measure to ensure that charging stations are used efficiently, benefiting the growing number of EV drivers in the area.
Charging Forward
As the demand for EV charging continues to grow, it’s likely we’ll see more adjustments to pricing models as charging station operators seek to balance serving the community with affordable charging with recovering the fixed and variable costs of providing a reliable service. For now, EV drivers at One Merriweather Parking Garage continue to have reliable EV charging, albeit at a new cost.
Let us know your thoughts on the new rates in the comments below! Have you used the charging stations at One Merriweather Garage recently? Share your experience!
