MSU Electric Vehicle Charging Station
FAQs
Why is MSU installing this station?
Where will the electric vehicle charging station be located?
How did MSU choose the location for the charging station?
Will more charging stations be added to campus?
What is the cost to the University for these installations?
Where is the money the University is putting toward this project coming from?
How much voltage will the charger use?
How much will it cost to charge my vehicle?
How long can I charge my vehicle?
Will I have to pay for parking in the ramp in addition to paying for charging my vehicle?
Where will the money collected from the charging station go?
How do I pay to charge my vehicle?
Is the charger always live, or only when you swipe your credit card?
How will I know how to use the charging station?
Is my personal information secure when I use my credit or debit card?
Will the charger shut off automatically when my vehicle is fully charged, or will the charger continue to feed electricity for my car the entire time it is parked in the spot?
What if another electric vehicle comes and needs to charge?
Do you need a special pass to park there?
What if someone is parked illegally there?
How will I know how much my credit card has been charged?
Does the plug only fit electric vehicles, or could other electronic devices also be plugged into it?
Where can I find more information?
Why is MSU installing this station?
MSU recognizes and is responding to a number of requests in terms of providing a place for the charging of electric vehicles, for staff, faculty, students and visitors to campus. The need for public charging stations is becoming more apparent as the market for electric vehicles is growing beyond the fleet vehicles MSU currently owns. It is also recognized that electric vehicles result in a decreased impact on the environment in terms of emissions and supports MSU’s Environmental Stewardship efforts in regard to transportation. Transportation emissions are recognized nationally as scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions that are a consequence of the activities of the institution, but occur from sources not owned or controlled by the institution).
Michigan State University is partnering with the Charge Point America in its Plug-in Electric Vehicle across America Project. The electric vehicle charging stations were provided by Charge Point America with funding through federal appropriations, ARRA, American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
Where will the electric vehicle charging station be located?
The 4 electric vehicle charging stations are located in Lot 79 which is the lot just south of the Stadium.
How did MSU choose the location for the charging station?
The lot south of the Stadium was chosen as central to campus and it is open to the public, students, staff and faculty, which is a requirement of the Charge Point Program.
Will more charging stations be added to campus?
Yes, in the future as the electric vehicle market grows and the demand for charging locations on campus increases. Locations will be in parking lots open to the public. The timelines for the installations are still to be determined.
What is the cost to the University for these installations?
$25,000
Where is the money the University is putting toward this project coming from?
The stations were provided as part of the ARRA program through the Department of Energy, the labor was provided by Physical Plant for installation of the stations.
How much voltage will the charger use?
220 volts
How much will it cost to charge my vehicle?
$2.50 per hour. You are paying for parking and maintenance of the station.
How long can I charge my vehicle?
Four hours maximum
Will I have to pay for parking in the ramp in addition to paying for charging my vehicle?
No, you will only pay at the charging station for charging your vehicle. The fee for charging is for parking and for the installation and upkeep costs of the station, not for the electricity. Upon exiting the ramp, let the parking attendant know that you were charging your vehicle and additional parking fees will not be assessed.
Where will the money collected from the charging station go?
The Physical Plant Division will collect the fee to pay for the initial installation and maintenance of the station.
How do I pay to charge my vehicle?
Credit and debit cards are presently required to use the charging station.
Is the charger always live, or only when you swipe your credit card?
Power only flows to your car when you are appropriately plugged into the station and swipe your card to release the power from the station. Power is released when the circuitry in your car “talks” to the circuitry in the station.
How will I know how to use the charging station?
There is a sign on the actual station that includes instructions for use and what the different user icons mean. In addition, an instructional video is available and online instructions can be found on the Charge Point America website for the Lot 79 charging station.
Is my personal information secure when I use my credit or debit card?
Yes. Once your card is swiped, the data is transmitted immediately in encryption code. The station is compliant with MSU credit card use standards. The credit/debit card “ePort” is operated through Charge Point America, and the ePorts are subject to third-party testing and validation. For more information on Charge Point America and its security assurances, visit the Charge Point America website.
Think of the credit card reader as a meter. It is programmed in one-hour increments, so when the pre-purchased time is up, the station will stop supplying power to the vehicle and the station’s user interface screen will indicate that it is not charging.
What if another electric vehicle comes and needs to charge?
There are 4 charging stations at Lot 79, south of the Stadium, so one should be open. The fifth vehicle will have to wait for the first vehicle to finish charging. See below question regarding illegally parked vehicles.
Do you need a special pass to park there?
No, you only need to have an electric vehicle plugged into the station, charging.
What if someone is parked illegally there?
The MSU Police will patrol the parking ramp as they do all parking areas on campus and will ticket vehicles that are parked illegally. They will also issue tickets for electric vehicles that are no longer charging, but are still parked in the space. To report illegal activity, contact the MSU Police at 517-355-8440.
How will I know how much my credit card has been charged?
The charge will show up on your credit card statement as Charge Point America. Customers should contact Charge Point America directly if there are any billing questions (1-888-561-4748). Additional information is available on the Charge Point America website.
Does the plug only fit electric vehicles, or could other electronic devices also be plugged into it?
The plug only fits electric vehicles. Power is released only when the circuitry in your car “talks” to the circuitry in the charging station. Where can I get more information about electric vehicles?
Much more information is available at Plug In Michigan.
