Seminole County Chamber, Optimus Energy Solutions Launch No-cost EV Charger Program

Floridians have embraced electric vehicles. The state is second in the country for the percentage of EVs on the roads at just under seven percent. But by 2040, the Florida Department of Transportation estimates that EV usage could be as high as 35 percent in our state.

That's why the Seminole County Chamber has partnered with Mt. Dora-based Optimus Energy Solutions and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy to offer no-cost EV chargers to qualified members of the Seminole County Chamber.

"This can be a tremendous cost savings for our investors when each charging station costs $10,000 on average," says Rebekah Arthur, president & CEO, Seminole County Chamber. "We're thrilled to be the first chamber in the country to roll out this program for our members."

Chamber members who are President level and above can receive chargers at multiple qualified locations at no cost to the business. Primarily these are for locations owned by the business with easy access to electricity. Businesses where guests stay for an hour or more are prime locations. The agreement includes 10 years of maintenance and upkeep.

A member's locations can be throughout Florida and Georgia.

"It's our goal to bring as many of these chargers to market as possible to meet the demand that is quickly growing in our region," says Ben Pauluhn, CEO, Optimus Energy Solutions. "This partnership between the Seminole Chamber and CICE should result in a significant improvement on our charging network throughout Florida, but particularly in our local community."

Optimus is one of the state's largest installers of EV chargers, working with businesses and governments throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The company was recently named to GrowFL's businesses to watch, being one of the 50 fastest-growing businesses in Florida.

The deal came together through the work of Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, a national network of chambers focusing on showcasing the advantages for businesses to utilize clean energy.

“With the rapidly advancing shift to the electrification of our transportation sector, it is great to see a regional chamber like the Seminole County Chamber playing a valuable role building out EV infrastructure in their community while providing a value-add feature to their members.” Said Ryan Evans, executive director, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy. “We see this program as a model for chambers of commerce throughout the country to accelerate their region’s EV readiness.”

Interested companies and organizations can learn more about the program by clicking here or by reaching out to Rebekah Arthur.