NORTHAMPTON — DC Station will offer its first two public programming options beginning in February.

Demo Day with Rivian, an EV manufacturer, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the business at 5 Fulton Ave. On Saturday, March 7, DC Station will host a workshop, “The ABCs of EV Ownership,” from 1 to 2 p.m. at its EV Base Camp.

For the Demo Day, DC Station developer Bruce Volz said three to four Rivians will be on site for test drives. Participants may stop in to ride or sign up for a time slot on the Rivian website by clicking here. (Follow the prompts, then click on the ZIP code and enter 01060.)

Anyone curious about electric vehicles is welcome to attend the workshop on March 7 to learn all there is to know about making the switch to electric driving. The 45-minute offering will be led by Greg Goff, who oversees EV Base Camp, the education center for DC Station.

Goff is an automotive consultant with over a decade of experience with EVs, and he will offer a talk and then answer questions. Topics to be covered include the benefits of going electric; home versus public charging options; understanding charging times and costs; battery care, range, and lifespan; costs; ownership experience; and tax credits, rebates, and other incentives.

DC Station (named for direct current) opened in October, offering 10 fast, level 3 charging ports for electric vehicles and, once tenants are found, a place for drivers to grab a fast cup of coffee or healthy meal while they wait. Any restaurateur interested in leasing space should contact Volz’s realtor, Ben Bolotin, at Region Commercial in West Springfield, at [email protected] or (413) 415-1200.

NORTHAMPTON — DC Station will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 5 Fulton Ave. so area residents can tour the new EV-centric facility, learn about its fast, level-3 charging ports, and meet the manager of the station’s learning and resource center, EV Base Camp.

“This event is our way of celebrating the launch and saying ‘thank you’ to everyone who’s helped bring DC Station to life,” developer Bruce Volz said. “We’re going to build some excitement and buzz about electric vehicles and the resources we have to offer here for drivers — and those who think they might like to be EV drivers.”

Local officials will be on hand at the free event as Volz thanks his construction team from Keiter and the building’s architects from Kuhn Riddle. Volz, an eco-friendly EV driver, will also share his vision for DC Station.

Unveiled in October, DC Station — named DC for direct current — offers a place for EV drivers to get a fast charge at one of 10 ports, available 24 hours a day. Drivers will also be able to grab a bite to eat and learn about the latest EV technology and vehicles. The station is located on the southern end of Northampton, a quarter-mile from Interstate I-91. Overflow parking for the grand opening will be available at Spare Time Bowling Alley.

At the event, visitors can have a bite to eat and hear from representatives of Lynkwell, which installed the charging ports, about the difference between level-2 and level-3 chargers. Participants will also learn how to use the level-3 chargers, including payment options.

Greg Goff, manager of EV Base Camp, will be on hand to answer questions and talk about the center’s varied EV resources. “One thing is missing in the EV industry, and that is proper education,” he said. “There is also a bias on how electric cars work. We want to get accurate information out to the public.”

At the grand opening, Goff will answer questions and talk with people interested in purchasing an EV who have concerns about where they might charge their vehicles. “I’ll also demystify EVs and make concepts understandable, such as the difference between fast and slow chargers,” he said. “I can also explain other terminology.”

EV Base Camp will offer a central place in the region for resources and information on EVs, including information on new models and used vehicles, the ins and outs of charging, financing and rebate options, maintenance questions, and information on planning a trip to reduce ‘range anxiety.’

Base Camp also plans to add an EV of the Week component in which interested parties can schedule a test drive from the site in that week’s featured EV.

DC Station still seeks tenants to offer food service, such as a coffee house or café to serve customers from early morning to afternoon, and a casual restaurant, such as a pizza or taco house, that would be open until later in the evening.

NORTHAMPTON — Developer Bruce Volz will open a modern fueling station, called DC Station, at 5 Fulton Ave. in Northampton on Oct. 4, providing 10 fast, level-3 charging ports for electric vehicles (EVs) and a place for drivers to grab a cup of coffee or meal while they wait.

The station — named DC for direct current — will also offer a learning hub, EV Base Camp, for those interested in EVs. The grounds will be landscaped with native plants to support local ecosystems and biodiversity. An array of solar panels will cover the charging stations to help defray the cost of the electricity.

“I’m a person who is concerned about the environment and wanted to do something that could have a direct impact,” Volz said, explaining that he hopes to prove there is a need for a well-designed, efficient-to-operate, modern electric fueling station that serves good coffee and food.

Volz seeks tenants for DC Station to join in this enterprise — in particular, a coffee house or café to serve customers from early morning to afternoon, and a casual restaurant, such as a pizza or taco house, that would be open until later in the evening.

Volz began his professional life as a designer and builder of high-end custom wood furniture. In 1991, he and a colleague, Tony Clarke, launched Volz, Clarke & Associates in One Cottage Street in Easthampton. The firm soon shortened its name to VCA and developed a national reputation with their custom furniture and architectural millwork. The business sold to Metrica in 2023, with all 48 employees retained.

As a side project, Volz also developed an award-winning, four-unit residential condominium project, designed by Jones Whitsett Architects, on Grove Street in Northampton in 2016. All units sold as soon as they were available.

The lot housing DC Station was previously the site for a gas station and used car lot, Pleasant Journey. The Planning Board unanimously approved Volz’s project in June 2024.

“Kuhn Riddle Architects and Berkshire Design Group developed a plan to turn a barren parking lot into a vibrant addition to the Northampton gateway district,” Volz said. “This project incorporates many of the city’s sustainability goals. Keiter was hired as the general contractor in 2024 and has since been diligently at work developing the site and constructing a 4,800-square-foot, energy-efficient building.”

The modern DC Station faces Fulton Street, with access to charging and parking on Conz and Pleasant streets; the level-3 chargers supplied by Lynkwell will soon be installed and are expected to be operational on Oct. 4.

“Level 3 are fast chargers that put out more electricity and cut charge time to 30 to 60 minutes,” Volz explained. “It’s really a game changer for people traveling long distances or for those who don’t have access to a home charger.”