South Lyon City Council Sighting Woes over Stalled EV Chargers.
In South Lyon, frustrations are gnawing the City Council as its intended progress on installing electric vehicle chargers seems to be dragging. The bone of contention appears to revolve around the Downtown Development Authority and alleged foot-dragging by its contracted partner ChargEV.
Councilman Alex Hansen voiced his concerns, using Farmington’s swift installation of EV chargers as a point of contrast. “It’s so disappointing that we’re left dragging heels on this project. All we’re getting from ChargEV are excuses. Farmington had their EV chargers setup in six months while we’re stuck three years in without any progress.” He suggested a need to reevaluate the company.
Councilwoman Margaret Kurtzweil chimed in, raising questions about the possibilities of seeking service from an alternate supplier.
The DDA Director Nate Mack clarified that the city was bound by a contract with ChargEV, however, he needed to consider the legal implications before taking further action. He highlighted worries around increased costs for the city with different contractors, noting that the DDA was paying a significant chunk of the expenses in the current agreement.
There seemed to be misunderstandings over the installation agreement with ChargEV. Council members were under the impression that the chargers were to be installed for free whilst the city would gain a percentage of revenues, a setup that appears to have changed. Mack explained that ChargEV proposed the city pay a portion of the installation fee in return for higher revenue sharing.
The council let the matter be, with no action taken during the meeting.
