Electric Vehicle Charging Network Expands Across St. Thomas and St. John

Sixteen public EV chargers are now operational in the St. Thomas–St. John district, delivering faster charging at locations including Fort Christian, Red Hook Plaza and Lindquist Beach as the territory pushes toward cleaner transportation.

  • Staff Consortium
  • March 03, 2026
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Electric Vehicle Charging Network Expands Across St. Thomas and St. John

The V.I. Energy Office announced Tuesday that it has expanded the territory’s electric vehicle charging network with new stations now operational across St. Thomas and St. John, providing additional refueling options for electric vehicle owners and supporting the territory’s transition toward cleaner transportation.

Energy Office Director Kyle Fleming announced that the expanded network of electric vehicle chargers in the St. Thomas–St. John district has been energized and opened for public use. The new stations bring the total number of chargers installed by the agency in that district to 16, forming part of a broader infrastructure network intended to support the growing number of electric vehicles operating across the territory.

The pedestal-mounted chargers are capable of delivering more than 10 kilowatts of power, allowing vehicles to recharge four to eight times faster than when plugged into a typical household outlet. Six of the chargers have been installed at the Fort Christian parking lot, four at Red Hook Plaza, and two each at parking areas near Lindquist Beach, Enighed Pond, and the Gift Hill School.

Since entering service, the charging network has delivered more than 27,700 kilowatt-hours of electricity to electric vehicles traveling on territorial roadways. Officials estimate that usage has displaced the equivalent of approximately 4,000 gallons of gasoline, helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the territory by more than 40 tons.

Public charging stations are also available on St. Croix. Motorists can access chargers at the Christian “Shan” Hendricks Vegetable Market in Christiansted, near the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority’s office in the William D. Roebuck Industrial Park, and at Ziggy’s Island Market.

Charging on the network is currently free. The no-cost charging period is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior and is intended to encourage adoption by removing barriers for new electric vehicle drivers while helping the public become familiar with the charging infrastructure.

Officials say the  Energy Office and the V.I. Water and Power Authority are working together to develop a long-term transaction model that will support the maintenance and operation of the public charging network once the incentive period ends.

The charging expansion builds on the momentum created by the agency’s Electric Mobility rebate program, government procurement of electric vehicles, and the increasing availability of EV models in the market.

Data compiled from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles shows that electric vehicle registrations have risen sharply in recent years, increasing from 149 vehicles in 2023 to 516 vehicles in 2025—more than tripling in just two years.

Additional infrastructure is also on the way, the Energy Office said. It expects to finalize installation next week of the territory’s first DC fast charger on St. Croix. The charger will be located at the Research and Technology Park’s solar farm alongside a battery energy storage system. Officials say the arrangement will allow electric vehicles to charge using renewable energy while providing resilience so that brief grid outages will not interrupt active charging sessions.

The Electric Mobility rebate program remains available to residents who purchase qualifying vehicles. The program offers rebates of $7,500 for eligible electric vehicles and $500 for electric bicycles purchased from authorized vendors.

Officials encourage residents interested in participating in the program or learning more about other energy initiatives to visit the Energy Office’s website for additional information on rebates and energy efficiency programs.

 

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