Halifax EMC awarded funding for new electric vehicle charging station at Lake Gaston

A new electric vehicle (EV) charging station has come to Lake Gaston and is located at Lake Gaston Pit Stop. Halifax EMC applied for and was awarded funding from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality through the Volkswagen Settlement Fund to fund the charger.

“This charging station will help increase local commerce, reduce emissions and bring the benefits of driving electric to our community,” said Charles Guerry, Executive Vice President of Halifax EMC. “Our members are increasingly interested in the convenience, cost savings and environmental advantage of electric vehicles, and we are proud to support expansion of this technology by securing funding for this local project.”

The new station at Lake Gaston Pit Stop is a DC Fast charger. DC Fast chargers provide the quickest charge available and can charge a depleted electric vehicle’s battery to 80 percent capacity in under 30 minutes.

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, including Halifax EMC, are working to create a statewide network of EV charging stations, enabling the increased adoption of EV technology. Cooperatives primarily serve members in rural locations, and their expanding charging network fills gaps in charging infrastructure in rural and tourist-visited areas, creating environmental and economic benefits for communities.

There are already 74 charging stations online in the North Carolina’s Electric Cooperative network, supporting a total of 122 ports. More than 4,000 users have accessed these chargers, from communities across North Carolina and 17 other states.

The Lake Gaston Pit Stop DC Fast Charger is the second fast charger location for Halifax EMC. The first DC fast charger is located on Highway 561 at Robbie’s just off of Interstate 95, Exit 160.