Dive Brief:
- EVgo is developing a modular fast charging configuration that would be quick to roll out and could be utilized in a temporary manner, depending on how much power is available on site.
- EVgo says its pre-fabricated FastStart stations are capable of Level 2 and DC Fast Charging and can be deployed in just days or weeks to areas that require immediate charging needs.
- As consumer adoption of electric vehicles slowly takes hold, more charging stations are necessary. This month ChargePoint and EVBox announced they would install a combined 3.5 million charging points by 2025 — by that time, electric vehicle (EV) sales are expected to make up more than a quarter of the market.
Dive Insight:
The electrified transportation sector faces many concerns as it begins to build out infrastructure, including questions over just how many charging ports will be needed.
In 2017 the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory modeled that it would take about 600,000 non-residential Level 2 plugs and 8,500 DC Fast Charging stations to support 15 million plug-in vehicles. EVgo's modular design could help speed installation in some cases.
EVgo CEO Cathy Zoi said in a statement the company has a "first mover" perspective on the charging sector and sees where the need is headed. The modular stations could be rolled out to short-term lease sites or fleet customers needing to charge in temporary depots, with multiple charging ports per station.
"Many of EVgo's partners have immediate needs for fast charging or depot charging," Zoi said.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts EV sales will represent 28% of global light-duty vehicle sales sometime shortly after 2025, growing faster than initially anticipated. By 2040, the firm believes electric vehicles will make up more than half of light-duty vehicle sales and represent a third of the total car fleet worldwide.
EVgo has its new FastStart station on display at Solar Power International and Energy Storage International conference in Anaheim, Calif., thru Sept. 27.
