Owners of electric vehicles have a new site to charge up locally, as chargers are now online at the Alltown convenience store and gas station on Grove Street in Peterborough. 

The three charging stations had been edging toward readiness since the fall, and on a recent Thursday, “Available” flashed in bright green from the orange ChargePoint stations. 

Global Partners operates Alltown. The firm’s website states that it is “one of the Northeast’s largest independent owners, suppliers and operators of gasoline stations and convenience stores.”

Trisha Cheever, Peterborough’s energy and community planner, said the existing charging stations in the Riverwalk parking lot had an objective in mind in addition to using greener energy.

“When looking at traffic patterns, we think about what behaviors we want to encourage. In that case, it was having people charge their vehicles while they shop or eat at Depot Square,” said Cheever, adding that the stations at Riverwalk are not “fast chargers.” 

The Alltown site has two fast chargers and a slower one. Global Partners spokesman Reid Lamberty said that fast chargers allow drivers to plug in and recharge quicker than at older stations.

“The idea is that people will come into the store, get a coffee, and use our free Wi-Fi while they charge,” he said.

Lamberty said that the ChargePoint CPE 250 DC fast chargers provide 100 to 150 miles of range from one hour of charging, while the Dual Port Level 2 CT4021 charger provides a 25-mile range  from an hour charge and is comparable to the speed of charging in one’s home.

“Global Partner’s plan is to build out EV charging stations. There’s increasing demand, and this boosts clean energy access,” said Lamberty.

Global Partners has already installed chargers at a site in Worcester, Mass. and another in New York State, and the installation in Peterborough coincided with one in Lancaster.

“We are thrilled to bring this technology to Lancaster and Peterborough,”  stated James Cater, Global Partners’ senior director of sustainability strategy and innovation. “These public, fast-charging stations are not only a convenient solution for electric vehicle owners, but they also promote sustainable transportation options.”

According to Lamberty, Global Partners received nearly $500,000 through the New Hampshire Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust DCFC Infrastructure program. This program, run by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, provided the financing to offset up to 80% of the cost of installing the charging stations.

Working the Alltown register, Jeb Merrill said people have been charging pretty regularly since the stations went online. At one station, Josh K. of Wilton was charging his Ford SUV.

“You get a Ford app, and it tells you where stations are,” he said. While the charger says one can tap a credit card, he said that a fee for the app of $5 a month covers the cost of charging. 

“I don’t charge it all the way up,” he said. “I’ve had the vehicle for a month, and I’m glad I’ve got another place I can charge.”

Peterborough is going green with town vehicles, as well. In addition to a police vehicle slated for purchase that will be electric, a Ford truck operated by the Wastewater Department is an EV. Utilities Superintendent Nate Brown of Wastewater Department said charging the vehicles at the treatment plant usually provides two days of driving.