Los Alamos County Invites Public to EV Charger Ribbon-Cutting Nov. 2
Los Alamos County is inviting residents to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 2 at 2 p.m. at Mesa Public Library to celebrate its new electric vehicle fast chargers. The stations have been available for public use since October 16, according to Los Alamos County.
The ceremony will recognise the completion of a charging project that expands access for local drivers and county vehicles. The new equipment is located at the library’s parking lot at 2400 Central Avenue, with vehicle access from Oppenheimer Drive.
New Chargers at Mesa Public Library
The installation consists of two dual-port DC fast chargers capable of delivering up to 150 kilowatts of power. The county confirmed their availability in an October 16 announcement.
“The DC fast chargers at Mesa Public Library are now operational and available for public use!” the county stated in its announcement.
The equipment provides a faster charging option than the Level 2 stations already installed elsewhere in Los Alamos. Actual charging times depend on a vehicle’s charging capabilities and battery conditions.
The library installation is designed to accommodate members of the public and county fleet vehicles. Its location places the equipment within an existing municipal facility rather than requiring drivers to visit a separate charging depot.
How Drivers Can Use the Chargers
Drivers currently need the Monta Charge mobile app to begin a charging session. The county said the physical credit card tap-to-pay feature is not yet available.
Users must download the app, create an account and add a payment method. They can then find the location listed as “National Car Charging: Los Alamos County”, select an available charger and follow the instructions to connect their vehicle.
The county’s project page lists a charging fee of $0.68 per kilowatt-hour. The amount a driver pays depends on the electricity delivered during the session.
Los Alamos County Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule explained the purpose of the charging fee, saying “this fee covers the cost of electricity as well as any future equipment replacement.”
The county plans to activate tap-to-pay functionality later, giving motorists another payment option without requiring them to start every session through the mobile app.
Project Funding and Construction
Los Alamos County lists the library charging project at $1,184,000, including a $435,388 grant from the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The remaining $748,612 represents the county-funded portion of the stated project value.
Regional contractor R&M Construction, LLC carried out the installation. The county’s project schedule ran from May 4 to October 1, 2026, with construction covering power connections, equipment foundations and the charging stations themselves.
Work included protective bollards, an accessible charging space and an emergency power shut-off system. These features were incorporated into the parking area on the south side of the library.
The construction process experienced interruptions as equipment arrived. The county’s progress account said the work “took longer than originally expected, with a few starts and stops as equipment arrived.”
Although construction ended on October 1, 2026, the chargers required additional payment-software preparation before motorists could use them. Final parking lot improvements also remain, including removing outdated striping.
County officials have instructed drivers to follow the existing white parking lines until the remaining improvements are completed.
Expansion of County Charging Network
The library project follows an earlier charging installation at the Los Alamos Municipal Building, located at 1000 Central Avenue.
That project added six dual-port Level 2 chargers, providing 12 charging connections for county and public vehicles. The county lists the Municipal Building charging rate at $0.23 per kilowatt-hour on its installation page.
The difference between the two installations gives drivers a choice between lower-priced Level 2 charging and higher-powered fast charging, depending on their vehicle’s needs and available charging time.
Both projects form part of the Los Alamos Climate Action Plan, adopted by the County Council in November 2024. The plan identifies expanded charging access and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from transportation as county priorities.
The county’s longer-term goals include cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
What Residents Can Expect Next
The November 2 ceremony will mark the public opening of the Mesa Public Library installation. The chargers will remain available for drivers while the county works to complete the outstanding payment and parking improvements.
