BriarPatch Food Co-op Grass Valley EV Chargers to Undergo Upgrade and Expansion 

Grass Valley, CA– BriarPatch Food Co-op’s Grass Valley store is getting an upgrade to the existing EV Chargers, expanding the quantity and capabilities. The project is anticipated to begin the week of February 24th, with construction time estimated at 5-6 weeks, weather and PG&E availability permitting.  

This project features:  

• More Chargers – The addition of 8 dc fast charger stations, capable of pushing double the amount of power. The existing chargers have 200-amp capacity; the new chargers will have 400-amp capability. Once the project is completed, there will be 10 chargers total. 
• More Power – Overall, there will be approximately 10 times more power in the new configuration. Site capacity will be increased, from 400 to 2000-amps, and an upgraded transformer on site. That’s 1200kw of new stations plus 125kw of old stations, for a total of 1325kw.  
• New Provider – There is also a license change from ChargePoint to SkyCharger. 

How will this upgrade be paid for? 

The charging station upgrade is funded in part through a CALeVIP grant of about $300,000 administered by the California Energy Commission. Six of the eight new charging stations will be funded through this program, while the other two will be funded by SkyCharger. There is no charge to BriarPatch. Learn More About CALeVIP (Note: The grant funding is not impacted by recent holds/freezes to federal EV charger project funds.) 

More information about SkyCharger and partnerships with other charging companies?

SkyCharger has a roaming relationship with other charging companies, including EV Connect and ChargePoint, so users can still pay for charging through these apps. Paying with a credit card at the charging stations is also possible. Drivers roaming onto the stations from an affiliate app/network pay the same price as in-app or credit-card users. SkyCharger also offers its own app: Drivers – SKYCHARGER QR codes will also be posted on the new BriarPatch Grass Valley charging stations allowing drivers to download the app.  

SkyCharger and carbon credits: SkyCharger helped fund the original unit upgrade from 50kw to 62kw units. When they did that, they enrolled in the low carbon fuel standard program. The stations generate carbon credits that can be used by SkyCharger in the CARB marketplace. SkyCharger collects carbon credits and user fees, and they also take care of the energy bills. 

What is SkyCharger’s pricing policy?

Pricing will remain the same on the new chargers and will be reassessed annually based on utility cost increases. Current pricing:  

What’s the grace period if charging’s done before I finish shopping? The SkyCharger stations are designed to charge faster than the current ChargePoint ones, meaning that users may find their charging session is complete before they finish their shopping. SkyCharger will keep the existing policy that is set on the two existing DC stations – Drivers will have a grace period of 35 minutes after charging has completed, before they incur any per-minute overstay fees. 

Will there be limited access around the worksite?: The area between Litton Drive and the charging stations will be off-limits for the duration of the project since there will be trenching. That includes the picnic tables and pergola on that hillside above the parking lot as well as the walking path in that area. Shoppers and other visitors to the area are asked to please respect the work zone boundaries and stay out. The work team will be putting up barriers of some sort to define the work zone, thank you for keeping clear of the action and staying safe! 

What else do we need to know – a day of striping and ADA-access-related work: Towards the end of the project there will also be at least one day where the traffic flow around the parking lot will partially impacted, during the installation and striping of a new ADA-compliant crosswalk from the charging stations to the existing walkway that runs under the solar panels to the store. BriarPatch will share date/duration/access details with everyone as this information becomes available. 

Says Sasha Scott, BriarPatch Food Co-op Sustainability Coordinator: “Sustainability is deeply ingrained in the values that drive our work at BriarPatch Food Co-op. Working with SkyCharger to expand our electric vehicle charging stations reflects our commitment to reducing environmental impact while making it easier for customers to embrace alternative transportation options. With 8 new stations and enhanced charging speeds, shoppers will be able to charge their vehicles more quickly and with less wait time. We understand that sustainability looks different for everyone, and we’re proud to provide solutions that support our customers’ goals and help create a greener future for all.”