Drive an EV? Need a place to charge in Lenoir? Well, now there's another charging station in Downtown.
The City recently opened a new, ChargePoint electric vehicle (EV) charging station at 613 West Ave. NW. The two-port station is in the parking lot behind Fire Station 1. That brings the total number of EV charging ports in the city to more than a dozen.
When North Carolina announced the Level 2 Charging Infrastructure Program, the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) submitted applications for several local governments in the area. The program is funded with VW Settlement funds.
"DEQ pushed out the program, and we seized on it and tried to assist our members with the program," said Ben Willis, Community & Economic Development Director with WPCOG. "We wanted to help get those funds into the region and create a more robust EV charging network."
City Council and staff pose with the new ChargePoint EV charging station, located at 613 West Ave. NW, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.
Today, there are there are 14 charging ports in Lenoir:
- two ports at the new station in Downtown at 613 West Ave NW, Lenoir
- two ports at the parking lot at 107 Boundary St SW, Lenoir
- two ports at the Bernhardt headquarters parking lot at 1839 Morganton Blvd SW, Lenoir
- two ports at Blue Ridge Energies at 1216 Blowing Rock Blvd,
- a DC charger at Blue Ridge Energies at 100 Cooperative Way
- five ports at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center at 1913 Hickory Blvd
"I think the new station in Lenoir is in a great location, and it's a great addition to the Downtown area," Willis said. "It will allow people to enjoy downtown businesses while they are charging, and hopefully it will attract more people into the downtown area."
City staff prepared the site location before installation and will maintain the charging station.
The new station and the City's other EV charging station at 107 Boundary St SW are currently free to use.
The station cost $11,468. The majority of the cost, $10,000, is being funded by a grant from the State's Level 2 Charging Infrastructure Program. The City is covering the remainder of the costs.
About the VW Settlement Funds
The VW Settlement is an agreement between the German automaker and the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Governor Roy Cooper designated the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to manage North Carolina’s share of the funds. In Phase 1, nearly $30 million was awarded for projects across the state. Phase 2 of the VW Settlement invested nearly $68 million on more projects to significantly reduce NOx emissions and improve air quality.
Click the following link to learn more about the WV Settlement funds in NC, https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/air-quality/motor-vehicles-and-air-quality/volkswagen-settlement.
The new ChargePoint two-port station is currently free to use. | 
Mayor Pro Tem Crissy Thomas, left, talks with Councilman David Stevens, center, and City Attorney T.J. Rohr about the new ChargePoint station Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. |
City Council dedicated the ChargePoint station to the City on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Pictured from left: City Manager Scott Hildebran, Ben Wills, Councilman Todd Perdue, City Attorney T.J. Rohr, Mayor Joe Gibbons, Councilman David Stevens, Councilman Ike Perkins, Councilman Kent Greer, Mayor Pro Tem Crissy Thomas, and Councilman Jonathan Beal. |
From left, Mayor Pro Tem Crissy Thomas, Ben Willis, and City staff Garrett and Hannah Williams. | 
There are 14 charging ports in Lenoir. Click the following links for maps of the stations in the region, ChargePoint.com, and PlugShare.com |