7 Ways EVs Are Revving Up
By Jackson Lewis on Mar. 15, 2021CHICAGO — General Motors’ (GM) plans to eliminate tail-pipe emissions from its vehicles by 2035 has been followed by a landslide of electric vehicle (EV) news.
More convenience stores are installing or announcing their intention to install EV chargers as manufacturers are rolling out more charging stations. Other car-makers are following GM’s lead with plans to phase out combustible engines.
Click through for seven examples of EV charging taking the spotlight …
More Tesla chargers
EVgo, a public fast charging network for electric vehicles (EVs), is expanding its offering for Tesla drivers to charge at more EVgo stations across the country, upgrading hundreds of its stations with integrated Tesla connectors. EVgo’s chargers are located in the lots of retail partners, including Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz.
- Sheetz is No. 14 on CSP's 2021 Top 40 update to the Top 202 list of c-stores by store count.
EVgo will deploy more than 400 integrated Tesla connectors at existing EVgo stations, with an additional 200 connectors reserved for new stations planned for 2021 in key cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Austin, Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City and Miami.
7-Eleven and PG&E
A 7-Eleven convenience store in West Sacramento, Calif., is the site of the first public electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers installed through the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E).
- 7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s 2021 Top 40 update to the Top 202 ranking of c-stores by store count.
Drivers can charge their vehicles at the four new advanced 125kW-capable EV fast chargers. This 7-Eleven store operates 24 hours a day and supports the fueling needs of both EVs and conventional cars, both options owned and operated by 7-Eleven.
Arko to install more EV chargers
Arko, which owns GPM Investments, has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Chakratec, an Israel-based developer of electric vehicle (EV) charging technology, to distribute the kinetic storage systems for fast charging of electric vehicles.
- GPM Investments is No. 7 on CSP’s 2021 Top 40 update to the Top 202 ranking.
Chakratec is a developer of kinetic energy storage systems that enable ultra-fast charging of EVs. Chakratec’s technology and products aim to solve range anxiety by allowing vast deployment of ultra-fast charging points along the roads, capable of charging EVs in less than 15 minutes—to a range of about 150 miles—even in sites where the local grid infrastructure is limited in power.
Lighting up EVs
US LED, a provider of LED lighting products, has expanded the TurboEVC product family to include new ultra-fast Level 3 DC charging technology.
These new Level 3 DC chargers can facilitate most electric vehicle (EV) models, including those with high-voltage battery systems. TurboEVC Level 3 DC chargers are best suited for serving the public or fleets, including cars, buses and trucks. Because of its modularity, TurboEVC offers charging capability of up to 120kW and can charge two vehicles at once.
Volvo to go electric
Volvo Cars plans to become a fully electric car company by 2030.
By then, the company intends to only sell fully electric cars and phase out any car in its global portfolio with an internal combustion engine, including hybrids.
The company's transition towards becoming a fully electric car maker is part of its climate plan, which seeks to consistently reduce the lifecycle carbon footprint per car through concrete action.
Combating range anxiety
Six utilities are working together to create a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations connecting major highway systems from the Atlantic Coast, through the Midwest and South and into the Gulf and Central Plains regions.
The Electric Highway Coalition—made up of American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Entergy Corp., Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley Authority—revealed a plan to enable travel across major regions of the country through a network of DC fast chargers for EVs. The companies are each taking steps to provide EV charging within their service territories.
Atlanta leans into EVs
The Atlanta Retailers Association (ARA), a convenience stores association with nearly 1,000 members, has entered into an agreement with EOS Linx to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at select locations in the Atlanta area. The units, which were created and designed by EOS Linx, feature a 75-inch digital advertising platform with artificial intelligence-based security and surveillance features.
The new charging stations with an integrated 75-inch ultrabright advertising display will allow the ARA members to connect with their consumers by providing important information such as emergency, weather, Code Adam alerts, community outreach and more.