Electrify America said it had now opened over 500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the US, passing “a significant milestone in the company’s expansion”.
“With more than 2,200 individual DC fast chargers nationwide, Electrify America is delivering on its commitment to make EV ownership more convenient than ever,” the company, set up by Volkswagen America in the wake of the ‘dieselgate’ scandal, said in a statement.
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Since opening its first site in May 2018, Electrify America has opened an average of nearly four stations per week.
Stations are located along major routes and in metro areas, near shopping, banking and dining amenities. Each station has between three and 10 individual DC fast chargers to accommodate multiple vehicles charging at one time. The chargers provide speeds of up to 150kW and 350kW.
A mobile app allows users to locate a station, pay and monitor a charging session.
“Electrify America is raising the bar when it comes to the high speed charging experience needed to expedite the transition to an electric future,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and chief executive officer, Electrify America. “In just over two years, we’ve made great progress in expanding our network while maintaining a deliberate focus on delivering the fastest charging speeds possible – 150kW and 350kW. We are confident that reduced charging times and increased charger availability will help Electrify America, and the industry as a whole, deliver the future-proof charging experience that customers deserve.”
The network recently introduced a new programme to add solar powered canopies at some station locations, providing shade and protection from the elements while potentially reducing electricity draw from the local utility.
The first Electrify America DC fast charger site to feature a solar-powered canopy is in Baker, California, where the solar panels charge a battery energy storage system (BESS) on site. The battery energy storage systems store power when electricity costs are low and supplement power during high points of consumption, minimising impact on the electrical grid. The company expects to have more than 125 fully operational BESS installations in 2021, with 75 located in California.
