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battery. The battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion <br /> engine and is not plugged in to charge. <br /> 2. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles(PHEVs)are powered by an electric motor. Conventional or <br /> alternative fuel is used to power a gas generator that allows the electric motor to continue to <br /> operate;hence extending the distance the vehicle can travel. The vehicle can be plugged into <br /> an electric power source to charge the battery. Some types of PHEVs are also called extended <br /> range electric vehicles(EREVs). <br /> 3. All-electric vehicles(EVs)use a battery to store the electric energy that powers the motor. <br /> EV batteries are charged by plugging the vehicle into an electric power source.EVs are <br /> sometimes referred to as battery electric vehicles(BEVs). <br /> There are a number of organizations and communities that have adopted the use of electric vehicles into <br /> their fleets such as the Minnesota DNR and the city of St.Paul. There are also a number of utilities who <br /> have installed electric vehicle charging stations,such as; Wright Hennepin Electric,Connexus Energy, <br /> and Xcel Energy. The focus thus has been on educating city staff on the types of vehicles,travel ranges, <br /> and maintenance concerns of this technology. <br /> There are drastic differences in the costs of the charging units and their charging rates because of the vast <br /> differences in charging times and equipment. The type of electric vehicle and charging station technology <br /> must be coordinated to ensure proper energy supply. ERMU is evaluating charging equipment options <br /> and possible grants to decrease the upfront cost of the charging stations. The vehicle charging equipment <br /> has three levels at this time: <br /> 1. Level One charging only requires a standard household 120 volt outlet. One hour of level <br /> one charging will provide 4.5 miles of range and it takes approximately 22 hours to attain a <br /> full charge.The level one charger is the most affordable;however,the slow charging process <br /> is inconvenient and does not aid in eliminating range anxiety. It allows for a lower demand <br /> charge over a longer period of time. <br /> 2. Level Two is a step up in charging and is equivalent to connecting your car to an electric <br /> dryer or stove outlet. It requires 240 volts instead of the level one 120 volts. This is still <br /> relatively cheap to install in a home and cost estimates are less than$1,500. These chargers <br /> provide for a wide range of charging but maximum estimates are approximately 70 miles per <br /> hour of charging,or about 8 hours for a full charge. <br /> 3. Level Three is the DC Fast Charge. This is the type of charging that will not be found in a <br /> home. This charging equipment requires 480 volts. The charging unit actually converts the <br /> alternating current(AC)of standard electricity to Direct Current(DC)prior to it being <br /> transferred to the battery in the car. The other charging methods utilize inverters in the <br /> electric vehicle to convert it to the DC electric. The DC Fast Charger can provide up to 20 <br /> miles of range in just 10 minutes. That would be equivalent to 120 miles of range provided in <br /> one hour. These types of chargers have been vital to increasing the electric vehicle charging <br /> network throughout the state and are decreasing range anxiety as they provide a relatively <br /> quick charge for travelers. They are also important to organizations utilizing electric vehicles <br /> in their fleets. <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: <br /> Staff is not requesting any action at this time. Staff is providing information to keep the Commission <br /> informed of the research being conducted and ask for input on the potential of electric vehicle options and <br /> programs that may be provided to the City of Elk River and the community. <br /> POWERED BY <br /> Page 2 of 3 NATURE <br /> Reliable Public' <br /> Power Provider POWERED To SERVE <br /> 170 <br />