Perry Hall Electric Car Charger No Longer Free

Drivers who exchanged their gas guzzlers for electric or plug-in hybrids have a different definition of filling up—it involves a cord instead of a hose.

But Perry Hall residents who rely on a charging station in the parking lot at 9621 Belair Rd. will now need to pay $1.99 per hour for the service. The ChargePoint station, installed about two months ago, started off free.

A Walgreens assistant manager, who declined to be identified, said the station began requiring payment this week, and some customers have complained.

The station is not owned or affiliated with Walgreens, the assistant manager added.

While Perry Hall is home to about a half-dozen gas stations, charging stations are few and far between.

The next closest ChargePoint charging station to the Perry Hall Walgreens is at the White Marsh Park & Ride, which remains listed as free.

A representative of ChargePoint, a Coulomb Technologies company, said each station is individually owned and the company does not disclose information on the owners.

More than 6,900 ChargePoint stations worldwide dispense about 552 megawatt hours of electric fuel each month, according to the company website.

But the future of cleaner vehicle fuel may not necessarily be found in a cord, according to a Bloomberg article published Wednesday. Wireless charging mats may soon take over the market, the article stated.

Should drivers have to pay for electrical power, or should it be provided for free? Is it economical to drive an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle? Tell us in the comments.