Meijer to Install EV Charging Stations at Supercenters
Grand Rapids’ Meijer has announced it will partner with California’s EVgo to add a public fast charging network for electric vehicles that is powered entirely by renewable electricity.
Installation of the charging stations will begin this summer across Meijer’s supercenters, allowing customers to charge while they shop.
The partnership will add to the more than 800 fast charging locations EVgo already owns and operates, while growing EVgo’s footprint and base of more than 220,000 customers nationwide.
EVgo charging stations are capable of powering all fast-charge capable vehicles on the road today.
New EV sales account for less than 2 percent of all vehicle purchases. The EV market is challenged by range anxiety, slow charging times, a lack of a national charging network, and a steep drop in resale values. The batteries, once they reach their end life, also are difficult to recycle.
Meijer has more than 250 supercenters across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, and Wisconsin. It has been offering electric vehicle charging facilities at select stores and on its corporate campus since 2010.
“Enabling the adoption of electric vehicles is a vital part of decarbonizing passenger vehicle transportation, and Meijer can play a role in enabling that transition,” says Erik Petrovskis, director of environmental compliance and sustainability at Meijer.
Meijer customers will have access to EVgo charging stations capable of 100 kilowatt to 350 kilowatt fast charging. EVgo will manage the installation and ongoing operation and maintenance of the charging stations.
“Meijer and EVgo share an unwavering commitment to customer convenience and sustainability,” says Cathy Zoi, CEO of EVgo.
“Enabling drivers to fast charge while they shop is what EVgo does, and it makes it easy for Americans to make EVs a part of their everyday lifestyle. An EVgo station attracts new and repeat customers looking to fast charge their vehicles up to 80 percent in 15 to 30 minutes.”
Meijer operates 256 supercenters and grocery stores. It is a privately owned and family operated company that was founded in 1934.
EVgo’s fast charging locations are in more than 67 metropolitan areas across 34 states.
It was founded in 2010 and partners with automakers, fleet and rideshare operators, retail hosts, and others. EVgo is owned by LS Power, a New York-based development, investment, and operating company focused on solutions for the North American power and energy infrastructure sector.
Since 1990, LS Power has developed, constructed, managed, or acquired more than 45,000 megawatts of power generation, including utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, natural gas-fired, and battery energy storage projects. It has also developed more than 660 miles of high voltage electric transmission.
Source: dbusiness
