Henry Ford once said, “Businesses that grow by development and innovation, do not die.”
It’s ironic that a quote from Ford would aptly describe the Town of Highlands’ stance on electric vehicles and their required charging stations.
After multiple months of banter, the town board decided to allow the Highlands Chamber of Commerce to install electric vehicle charging stations at four public parking spaces.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kaye McHan presented a proposal to install five EV chargers in Highlands. Two will be located on Oak Street, two will be located on 3rd Street and one will be located at the Chamber office parking area.
McHan explained that the Chamber received a $20,000 grant to buy and install the “Level II” charging stations and that there would be no cost to the town other than the use of the parking spaces. Despite that fact, the commissioners rightly had questions.
Who is responsible if the chargers get damaged?
How will the electricity used at the charging stations be paid for?
Why were the parking spaces selected at the designated locations?
All of those items were valid concerns, and McHan was able to ease any trepidation about the maintenance of the stations and their ties to the town’s electric system.
Where the town board missed the mark was when a discussion about “need” for charging stations arose. The idea that electric vehicles are some sort of technological fad, or that EVs are not going to be roaming Highlands’ roads in perpetuity, is misguided.
Anyone who has driven around town over the past 2-3 years has seen a marked increase in Teslas, Rivians and other EV models. What were once a notable anomaly parked on Main Street are now commonplace – and the numbers back that up.
According to Kelly Blue Book, a leading automotive sales publication, electric vehicle sales increased by 65 percent in 2022 over year prior. KBB is estimating EV sales to grow by an additional 36 percent (14.3 million total vehicles) in 2023.
In short, electric vehicles aren’t going away. It’s wise that Highlands has now joined surrounding towns like Franklin, Sylva, Clayton and Brevard in planning for their continued use.