Press Release from Office of Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman

The new public electric vehicle (EV) charging station located in Ivoryton Park at 100 Main Street in Essex is up and running. The Ivoryton station adds two ports to the two ones which are already in operation in the parking lot behind the Essex Post Office.

To use the new station, a driver selects one of two ports at the charging station and then swipes a credit card to unlock the cable. Then, they plug the cable into their car. You can also use the AmpUp app.

Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman shared his enthusiasm about providing the added charging ports.

“The Town of Essex is delighted to provide electric vehicle owners with easy access to EV chargers while they are visiting our area’s many shops, restaurants, theater, and public lands,” Needleman said. “We also appreciate the funding we were awarded by Eversource and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), which helped make the installation of the new charging station in Ivoryton possible.”

The Town of Essex has a long history of embracing sustainability practices which aim to ensure the health and well-being of current and future residents, while respecting the finite capacity of the natural environment. Town officials worked closely with the Sustainable Essex Committee in developing the design plans, obtaining proposals, and submitting applications to Eversource through its Connecticut EV Charging Program and the VW Settlement Diesel Emissions Mitigation Program – EVSE Round 1, administered by the Connecticut DEEP. As a result of the awards granted, the Town of Essex will have to cover only a fraction of the total costs associated with the installation of the EV charger in Ivoryton.

Kalyn D’Occhio, chair of the Sustainable Essex Committee, echoed First Selectman Needleman’s sentiments regarding the new charging station.

“Sustainable Essex is proud of its role in helping the Town of Essex continue to lead in sustainability practices and in obtaining grants from various institutions,” said D’Occhio. “Ivoryton now joins its sister village, Essex, in offering residents and visitors an easy-to-use public EV charging station. We will also continue to search for other viable locations for an additional EV charging station.”

The station in Ivoryton was manufactured by Enfield-based EVSE LLC and was installed by Bonner Electric.