HURON — The latest signpost for the future became functional last week and was put to use almost immediately.
An electric vehicle charging station has been installed and is now operational on the west side of the Prostrollo’s Collision Center in Huron. It has been in process for some time and, according to John Deniger, Prostrollo’s owner, finally began working on Friday, Jan. 27.
“It was quite a deal getting it programmed and synced up to work,” Deniger said. “But we kept at it and the pieces fell into place.”
Deniger said that having the charging station installed has been on the horizon and is a virtual necessity for marketing the new electric cars rolling off the assembly line. He added that Prostrollo’s should see their first electric vehicles in the next month or so.
“We had to run power through the collision center for the station,” he said of the installation. “Something like that takes a great deal of power, of course.”
Deniger said he received a call from someone in Minnesota soon after, confirming that there was a charging station, and that it was operational. “They stopped on Saturday and charged up,” he added.
Since then, Deniger said he knew of one other vehicle that had accessed the charging station, which is part of the ChargePoint system for electric vehicle owners.
ChargePoint has an app for EV owners that shows the charging station locations around the world, including more than a dozen so far in South Dakota. Others who may not be ChargePoint customers may access the map through the company’s website. Those needing a charge may either set up an account with ChargePoint and have the charging billed to them, or may use a credit card and pay for the use on the spot.
Deniger said that Prostrollo’s pays for the electricity and is reimbursed by ChargePoint for power used that is charged through the company. Prostollo’s owns the charging station and Deniger said when the need arises, he will likely install another station as well.
At this time, no other charging stations are in the works for Huron, according to a spokesman at Northwestern Power.
