Two electric vehicle charging stations installed at the east end of the Rio Verde Community Center parking lot are now operational.

The proposal to install the chargers was presented to the Rio Verde Community Association (RVCA) board by the Living Green in the Verdes Committee for discussion at two separate meetings and was approved unanimously at the May board meeting.

While forecasts for the rate of electric vehicle adoption over the next decade vary widely, most expect it to accelerate. S&P Global Mobility forecasts electric sales in the U.S. could reach 40% of total passenger sales by 2030. To keep Rio Verde relevant and poised for the future, these chargers are meant for the use of guests and visitors to the community.

The chargers are accessed through a smart phone app and are charged to the user’s credit card. The average cost of an electric vehicle is $66,000 which suggests that EV owners are potential candidates for home ownership in the community, according to the Living Green Committee.

The RVCA pays 15-cents/KWH and those using the chargers will pay 30 cents/KWH, the going rate for most public chargers. The chargers were acquired through federal, state and SRP grants at no cost to Rio Verde. The cost of the installation was approximately $1,800 and will ultimately be paid for by those using the charging stations. At a low 3% utilization rate, the payout is expected to be less than 18 months. The cost of the charging stations was covered under the 2023 budget of the Living Green in the Verdes Committee.