Charlotte Unveils New Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Historic West End

Charlotte Welcomes New Electric Vehicle Charging Station to the Historic West End

Charlotte is buzzing with excitement as CleanAIRE NC, a local sustainability nonprofit, has announced the upcoming installation of a new electric vehicle (EV) charging station along Beatties Ford Road. This is the fourth EV charging station coming to the Historic West End corridor since the influential Green District initiative kicked off in 2021!

New Charging Station Details

The new station will be conveniently located at 2010 Beatties Ford Road, right in a shopping center just south of LaSalle Street. If you’re familiar with the area, you’ll find it next door to an American Deli, making it an ideal spot to grab a bite while you charge up!

Other stations that have already made their mark on the corridor can be found at 2315 LaSalle St., 1201 Beatties Ford Road, and 2035 Patton Ave.. This expansion is a step forward in making EV charging more accessible for everyone in the community.

Partnering for Progress

In bringing this new station to life, CleanAIRE has joined forces with Go-Station, the company that specializes in EV chargers, alongside numerous community members and organizations from the Historic West End. Their mission? To further the Historic West End Green District campaign, which is all about reducing air pollution, enhancing health, and building climate-resilient communities throughout the corridor.

Mike Anderson, the vice president of Go-Station, emphasized the importance of this advancement, stating, “Expanding access to EV charging infrastructure is critical for advancing environmental justice and promoting a cleaner future for all Charlotte residents.” According to him, this new station will not only diminish emissions and enhance air quality but will also empower residents to make eco-friendly choices by making electric vehicles more viable.

Celebration to Ceremonially Cut the Ribbon

Mark your calendars! The Historic West End Green District is hosting a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 16 to officially unveil the new charging station. But wait, that’s not all! The ceremony will also showcase a piece of public artwork designed by talented Charlotte-based artist Sala Faruq.

Faruq described the station as “a beacon of hope for our communities,” and she integrated meaningful imagery into her artwork, including symbols like children representing optimism for the future, maps symbolizing connectivity to wider environmental initiatives, and dogwoods and branches symbolizing renewal. It’s an inspiring way to celebrate this new milestone!

Learn and Engage

The dedication ceremony promises to be more than just a reveal. It will serve as a resource hub for residents to learn about the benefits of electric vehicles and details surrounding the HWEGD initiative. This initiative is keen on engaging neighborhood residents with education and advocacy training related to environmental sustainability.

Some exciting HWEGD projects have included local air quality monitoring, implementing green infrastructure such as living green walls, EV charging stations, green bus shelters, and pushing for strategic tree planting and solar community projects. It’s much more than just a charging hub; it’s about building a healthier, greener Charlotte together.

Community Roots

The HWEGD has been active since 2016, bringing together passionate residents like Ronald Ross, Mattie Marshall, and William Hughes, who partnered with CleanAIRE NC to tackle air pollution issues that mostly affect historically Black neighborhoods—including the Beatties Ford corridor.

Their efforts to measure and understand air pollution levels compared to other neighborhoods have been eye-opening and essential for advocating for better policies and practices in the community.

The official charging station dedication takes place on Saturday, November 16, from 11 a.m. to noon at 2010 Beatties Ford Road. All community members are warmly invited to celebrate this exciting development, and if you plan to attend, organizers kindly request that you RSVP online.

Let’s come together to celebrate progress, sustainability, and a brighter, greener future for everyone in Charlotte!