CAMPBELL, Calif. — ChargePoint, the world’s largest and most open electric vehicle (EV) charging network, today announced it is building 70 new DC fast charge locations along popular highway routes across the state of California. California Energy Commission (CEC) grants provide primary project funding, augmented by ChargePoint and partners. All of the new stations will be part of the growing ChargePoint network of over 31,000 charging spots that are easy for EV drivers to find and use wherever they go.
The new charging sites will enable extended-range electric travel throughout the state’s major transit corridors. EV drivers will gain access to destinations such as Las Vegas and Joshua Tree in Southern California and Lake Tahoe and Yosemite in Northern California, and they will be able to travel to the Oregon border on Highway 101 or Interstate 5. Dozens of under-served communities without previous access will get DC fast charge technology, compatible with all EVs that support fast charging. All drivers will be able to locate stations along their route using ChargePoint’s free mobile app.
With over 542,000 EVs already on the road in North America and more than 235,000 registered in California, the growing population of EV drivers in the state needs reliable access to fast charging. To meet this need, the 70 new DC fast charge locations will be strategically situated at restaurants, hotels, gas stations and retail shopping centers; spaced to enable continuous EV travel and located to maximize safety, convenience and the driver experience 24 hours a day. The new charging sites extend ChargePoint’s existing network, add to the state’s growing charging infrastructure and act as a catalyst for further EV adoption and economic development.
“Our mission at ChargePoint is to get everyone behind the wheel of an EV by providing a convenient charging experience everywhere they go,” said Pasquale Romano, CEO of ChargePoint. “Combined with ChargePoint’s existing network, the new charging spots along these routes will make driving electric an easy choice for anyone in California and connect communities and areas that were previously hard for EVs to reach.”
All 70 new charging locations will offer both DC fast and Level 2 charging to serve EV drivers whether they’re going on long trips or getting around town. Each site will initially include up to four 50-kilowatt DC fast charging stations. Station installation is expected to start in 2017 and be completed in late 2018, with all locations ready to add charging capacity as EV adoption continues to grow in the state. Sixteen sites on I-5 are currently in development and were funded for $3.74 million in early 2016, and the CEC funded an additional $9.27 million for the next 54 sites in December 2016. With these projects, the CEC is establishing a repeatable funding model for EV charging that will continue to bring EV charging to more areas and make driving electric easy for more people.
About ChargePoint
ChargePoint is the largest and most open electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the world, with more than 31,000 independently owned charging spots that are easy for EV drivers to find and use at home, at work, around town and out of town. Leading EV hardware makers and other partners rely on the ChargePoint network to make charging station details available in mobile apps, online and in navigation systems for popular EVs. ChargePoint drivers have completed more than 20.3 million charging sessions, saving upwards of 19.7 million gallons of gasoline and driving over 472 million gas-free miles.
For more information about ChargePoint, visit www.chargepoint.com.
Source: ChargePoint