Charged up about being a destination

There will soon be one more reason to go to Hollander Chocolate in Port Washington.

The company, known for its chocolate products and the recently opened Tulip Cafe, will install at least four Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations this spring.

These stations, which will be available for use around the clock, can charge a vehicle to 80% capacity in about 20 minutes, Hollander President and Co-Owner Doug Podzilni said.

“Level 3’s are the most efficient charging systems out there right now,” he said, noting that Level 1 chargers can take all night to get to 80% charged.

The company was recently awarded a $670,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to help finance the venture, with Hollander providing $300,000 in matching funds.

The state grant is intended to expand access to fast, reliable electric vehicle charging across the state. The Hollander station at 1180 S. Spring St., Podzilni noted, will close an existing service gap between Milwaukee and Sheboygan.

“This is not a cheap endeavor,” Podzilni said.

But, he added, it’s something the company has wanted to do for some time.

“Everybody’s been really positive about it,” he said. “I don’t personally own an electric vehicle, but I know people who do.”

The company, he said, is “excited to play a role in Wisconsin’s clean energy future. As electric vehicle adoption grows, we are proud to provide a welcoming, convenient place for travelers and community members to recharge both their vehicles and themselves.”

Hollander applied for the DOT grant once before but it was rejected for a variety of reasons, Podzilni said, but the company persisted and, with the help of We Energies and Wisconsin Clean Cities, was successful.

“We pitched it hard,” he said. “We were blown away when we were selected.”

For Podzilni, the charging station concept is a natural for the company.

“I don’t know what the ROI (return on investment) is. As a company, we simply said we’re going to do it,” he said. “It adds to the mission we have to be an attraction in Port Washington.”

After all, he said, it takes about 20 minutes to charge a car, and during that time people need something to do. With its cafe open now and a chocolate museum coming next year, Hollander’s location on South Spring Street — aka Highway 32 on the city’s south side, not far from I-43 — there’s plenty to do while waiting for a charge.

And, he added, the company has a large, lighted parking area that’s open around the clock.

“This is another fun reason to come off I-43,” Podzilni said.

The charging station will be near the flagpoles on the Hollander lot and lit around the clock, he noted.

Podzilni said the company will install at least four charging stations, with work beginning in spring and the station open in summer.

“My hope is we can do more than four,” he said.

The station, he added, will be the only one of its kind in Ozaukee County.

Podzilni said he expects that the station will draw tourists traveling along the interstate, giving them one additional reason to get off the highway and discover what Port — and Hollander Chocolate — has to offer.

But, he added, it will also likely draw city residents “looking for a charge on their way in or out of Port.”