Hamblock Ford in Belvidere opens new EV charging station, offers free charges in October

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — Hamblock Ford on Wednesday cut the ribbon on its new electric vehicle charging stations, which will be available to use for free throughout this month.

The new Blink Charging stations at the dealership, 1800 N. State St., can charge a wide variety of models of EV vehicles — not just Ford.

There are three Level 3 chargers, which can connect to six cars. The Level 3 stations can charge a battery about 80% in 30 minutes, depending on the size. There are also six Level 2 chargers, which can take from a few hours to overnight to fully charge a car’s battery.

The dealership said the new stations underscore its commitment to embracing the future of automotive technology.

“We understand that our customers want choices when it comes to vehicle powertrains,” said Joe Hamblock, president of Hamblock Ford. “Whether it’s hybrid, gas, diesel, or electric, we offer a full range of options to meet our customers’ needs. By installing these state-of-the-art EV charging stations, we’re not only enhancing the overall dealership experience, but we’re also supporting the growing demand for electric vehicles.”

The stations are free to use in October, and then available to pay to use through the Blink app, membership card or the automated pay system.

Hamblock said it took about a year and a half to bring the charging stations here because of the shortage of transformers affecting the electric industry.

The new stations are equipped with the latest charging technology and provide the city with its only station that can charge a large number of vehicles at once, Hamblock said.

“Our goal is to empower customers at every stage of their journey—whether it’s during the buying process or throughout their ownership experience,” Hamblock said. “We’re proud to support our community by providing access to forward-thinking, sustainable automotive solutions.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas