CICE partners with local chamber to bring first public EV charging station to Florida island community

This week, the SanCap (FL) Chamber of Commerce unveiled an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at its visitors center, which serves both Sanibel and Captiva Islands, off the coast of Florida near Ft. Myers. The station is the first public EV charging station on either island. 

The station is both a triumph of resilience and collaboration. In the planning stages before Hurricane Ian hit in September 2022 and delayed the installation, the charger is part of a program developed by Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) to help chambers and their members have access to EV chargers throughout Florida. This program addresses a critical need for the state, which currently has limited access to EV charging stations, and serves as a model for how business leaders can introduce EV charging stations to their communities.

“More and more Florida residents are choosing to drive electric vehicles and, as such, expanding the infrastructure for EV drivers is vital,” says Ryan Evans, executive director of Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy. “Bringing this charger online is particularly significant because the SanCap Chamber has been a tremendous partner for us over the years.”

CICE worked with Florida-based Optimus Energy Solutions to provide and install the charging station at no cost to the SanCap Chamber and its communities. Two spots in the chamber parking lot are now designated for EV charging, open 24 hours daily. Both islands are renowned worldwide for being serene, idyllic environments for vacation getaways, so building out the EV infrastructure is part of the islands’ plan to preserve their natural ecosystems.

“This is an important step for the future of our destination, offering confidence to drivers of electric vehicles that they will find the infrastructure they need to charge their cars while experiencing our destination,” says John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and CEO. “We are grateful for our partners who have worked for several years to make this possible.”

The charging station comes as the country is facing growing need for EV charging stations, along with a cold spell which has placed greater strain on the U.S.’s EV infrastructure. According to a PwC analysis, the EV charging market could — and will need to — grow nearly tenfold to satisfy the charging needs of an estimated 27 million EVs on the road by 2030.

Based in Mt. Dora, Fla., Optimus Energy Solutions provided and installed the charger at no cost to the chamber. The company will manage and maintain the charger over the next 10 years. Users can pay at the station by credit card or with the CharePoint app.

UPDATE (1/30/24): This story was covered by the Ft. Myers News-Press, Naples Daily News, and Dealtown.