JPS Invites EV Owners to Test Jamaica's First Public Charging Station

On Friday 16 April 2021, national grid operator Jamaica Public Service (JPS) invited electric vehicle (EV) owners to test its first public charging facility at the Boot service station in Drax Hall, St. Ann. 

The national utility plans to roll out nearly a dozen public charging stations across Jamaica, three like the one in Drax Hall with both 220v level 2 and 440v level 3 fast chargers, the remainder with level 2 chargers. 

The Boot charging station is equipped with Mode 3 AC (level 2), CHAdeMO DC (level 3) and Combo DC (level 3) charge plugs.

JPS has responded to calls from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), USAID, the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica to begin enabling a transition to electric transport as an important part of the decarbonization of the country's economy. The transport sector is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Jamaica and in the US. JPS Foundation was awarded a project designed by IDB LAB to develop the electric mobility ecosystem in the island.

The Government of Jamaica embraced a strategic framework for electric mobility in 2020 that will guide fiscal and regulatory policy as EV imports grow and tax revenues from fossil fuel imports dwindle.