Electrifying!

Jacksonville gets first public EV charging station

Special to The Source

CNB Bank & Trust is proud to announce the installation of Jacksonville’s first public electric vehicle (EV) charging station. Located at CNB’s West Morton Avenue location, the new charging station will make it easier for EV drivers to travel and do business in the area.

This project was a collaborative effort between CNB and Community BancService Corporation’s (CSBC) Innovations Committee. Andy Tinberg, chairman of CBSC’s Innovations Committee and CNB’s senior executive VP & chief banking officer, had this to say about the new charging station: “CNB is excited to partner with Jacksonville Main Street on this project. The installation of a public EV charging station is another step forward in our efforts to promote innovation and sustainability in our community.”

Illinois currently has 1,013 public electric charging stations, with most of those stations located around Chicago and the Metro East area. The limited availability of charging stations outside of larger metropolitan areas is a major reason that the EV market share remains low compared to conventional gas-powered vehicles.

CNB’s “Level 2 EV chargers” utilize a 240-volt power supply and will fully charge an EV battery in half the time of a “Level 1” charger. Additionally, “Level 2” chargers can charge more than one EV at a time and are ideal for residential installation for people who travel frequently and for commercial fleets. CNB contracted with ChargePoint, a well-known EV infrastructure provider. The station is configured to accept payments via a ChargePoint mobile application account.

“Hotels, restaurants, retailers and other small businesses will benefit from the increased traffic that will come from EV owners who have the confidence that they can charge their vehicles in town,” said Tinberg.

Jodee Nell, CNB’s market president adds, “CNB’s hope is that the addition of the public EV charging station will encourage more visitors to stay, eat and shop in Jacksonville. CNB is a great location for the station as there are multiple restaurants and shops that EV drivers can walk to while their car is charging.”

Although Jacksonville is a jumping-off point, it is CNB’s intent to continue expanding this venture to other communities the bank serves. “We hope to take what we learn with this in Jacksonville and reach out to other communities to see if it would be helpful to them as well,” said Tinberg. By tackling what others couldn’t, CNB is once again making a real difference for the communities it serves.

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