The Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO) has officially energized eight Level 2 electric vehicle chargers across four new charging sites on St. Croix, marking a significant step in the territory’s transition to clean transportation. The EV Charger Pilot Project is the first phase of a broader initiative to transform Virgin Islands roadways into prime corridors for environmentally friendly EVs, VIEO Director Kyle Fleming announced in a press release.
The chargers, funded through a $1.1 million Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) Grant from the U.S. Interior Department, were installed at Christian “Shan” Hendricks Vegetable Market in Christiansted, VIEO’s Estate Carlton office, the William D. Roebuck Industrial Park near the Virgin Islands Economic Development Agency’s Office, and Ziggy’s Island Market, according to the press release.
All sites are now open to the public, with free charging initially available as part of the pilot, the press release stated.
The grant has enabled the procurement of 34 Level two Siemens Ketchauke EV chargers, and VIEO plans to install the remaining chargers on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John by the end of the third quarter of 2025. Fleming emphasized that the pilot project provided valuable lessons to streamline future installations, the release stated.
Thanks to the EIC grant, VIEO will be able to initially offer free charging at its charging sites, a move that Fleming explained will help to promote the technology and could help further spur its wide adoption. The chargers are equipped with software that can track how much energy they dispense, and once the grant period of performance concludes, VIEO will implement a sensible rate, it said.
The installations coincided with the Crucian Festival season, requiring coordination among multiple contractors and agencies. Residents and tourists alike welcomed the enhanced EV infrastructure, which aligns with the legislative mandates of Act 7075 and the “USVI Transportation Electrification Roadmap” released by VIEO in 2022, the release stated.
Among the first to use the new chargers was Brian Boschen, who plugged his Nissan Leaf into the Ziggy’s charger on Jan. 10, 2025. Boschen, senior chef at the Lighthouse Mission, expressed excitement as he charged his vehicle after a morning of preparing meals for charity. “In all the years I’ve been driving electric on St. Croix, I’ve never worried about losing power midway through a trip,” Boschen said, noting that the island’s size makes EVs ideal for local travel.
Curtis Flemming, owner of Flemming’s Tax and Bookkeeping Services, became the first to use the Shan Market charger. “I’m happy to see these chargers going up around the island,” Flemming said, smiling as he mounted an adapter to make the Siemens charger compatible with his Tesla.
Fleming described the new infrastructure as a community milestone, further evidence of the territory’s electric vehicle market transformation. As the pilot progresses, VIEO plans to continue building on its commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future, the release stated.
