Fort Wood get’s electric car charging stations

Fort Leonard Wood’s Directorate of Public Works, in conjunction with utility partner, Laclede Electric Cooperative, is currently installing the post’s first electric vehicle charging stations. The initial seven stations — with more sets to come — will provide charging capabilities for the electric vehicle fleet that will eventually replace all non-tactical government-owned vehicles on post, part of an Army directive in line with Presidential Executive Order 14057 — Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability. The order requires the Department of Defense to transition its non-tactical vehicles to a 100 percent zero-emission fleet.
According to Jeannie Belew, with DPW’s Municipal Services Branch — which helps oversee utility contracts for the installation — the goal is to gradually electrify the post’s fleet of about 540 non-tactical vehicles by the fiscal year 2026. Two electric cargo vans have already arrived, Belew added, with 14 more EVs on order and expected this year.
The agreement with Laclede — who will own, operate and maintain the charging stations on post for a monthly fee — will ensure there is an ample number of charging locations to meet demand. The stations being installed are what’s called Level Two chargers, which use a 240-volt power supply and can typically add 10 to 20 miles of range to a light-duty EV per hour of charging time. The initial charging stations will be located across the post cantonment area, including Bldgs. 470, 752, 3202, 5260, 5267, 6100 and 11400.