By Kaylea Kuhlman, Reporter
Omaha, Neb.-Park Omaha has installed seven new electric vehicle chargers in parking garages around downtown Omaha.
There are now nine electric vehicle charging stations in the area, with another one in the process of installation. The charging stations have dual ports, meaning 18 total vehicles can now be charged at once across downtown parking garages.
All the chargers are level 2, or AC chargers, which uses 240-volt electrical supply and can add about 25 miles of range per hour.
Tesla model Y owner, Jessie Smith, said he has only used public charging stations a few times for both long distance driving and in emergencies. When he does use them, he prefers level 3 (DC) chargers.
“You need those DC fast Chargers, and those are still fairly rare. And so if I can find a DC fast charger, I will,” Jessie said.
Jessie said a DC fast charger can fully charge his car in about 45 minutes.
Surface lots under the I-480 bridge at 1703 Chicago Street will have both a Level 2 and a Level 3 charger installed, and many locations are being evaluated across the city for more stations.
“We have a few new facilities that we’re going to be building, and within those facilities, we’re looking at about 15 to 20 percent of the spaces that are in there being eligible for electric charging,” said Ken Smith, City Parking and Mobility Manager of Park Omaha.
EV charging stations in Omaha use the ChargePoint app, which monitors charging activity and allows users to pay.
Park Omaha stations cost 25 cents per hour up to one dollar, then adds an additional 2 dollars per hour.
