VW's Electrify America Selects Suppliers for U.S. EV Chargers

author: Eric Walz   

DETROIT — Volkswagen AG unit Electrify America said on Tuesday it has selected several suppliers, including Switzerland's ABB Ltd and South Korea's Signet EV Inc, to install more than 2,000 high-speed electric vehicle chargers in the United States by the end of 2019.

VW announced the chargers will be installed at 484 charging stations across the country. Electrify America said the fast chargers will deliver 20 miles of range per minute of charge— seven times faster than chargers currently in operation.

Other suppliers chosen include Portugal's Efacec Electric Mobility, S.A. and Santa Ana, California-based BTC Power Inc.

Volkswagen's global reputation was severely damaged by the "dieselgate" emissions scandal, in which Volkswagen admitted it tampered with diesel vehicle software in order to bypass stringent emissions requirements. As retribution, VW created Electrify America as catalyst to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S.

VW has agreed to spend $800 million in California alone on clean car infrastructure as part of its agreement with federal regulators after admitting to diesel emissions cheating.

Electrify America's charging systems will have a range in power from 50kW, the most commonly used fast charging for electric vehicles today, up to 350kW for its highway stations. The Electrify America systems will also offer DC Fast Chargers ranging from 50kW to 150kW for metro locations.

ABB said it would supply its Terra HP charging stations, which can recharge "even the largest electric vehicle battery in under 15 minutes."

"These state-of-the-art chargers will provide the latest in charging technology for today's electric vehicles and those expected in the future that will feature larger batteries," said Mark McNabb, President and CEO of Electrify America. "We want to be sure that our systems are prepared for this growing market, and ABB, BTC Power, Efacec and Signet will help us deliver chargers that are ultra-fast, convenient, reliable and future-proof."

ABB's Terra 53 DC Fast Charging Station

A lack of public charging infrastructure for U.S. consumers to recharge their vehicles is seen is as a major barrier to the mass adoption of electric vehicles as consumers remain concerned over their limited range.

Over a ten year period ending in 2027, Electrify America will invest $2 billion in zero emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and education programs in the United States. Electrify will build a nationwide network of workplace, community, and highway chargers that are conveniently located and reliable.

The chargers have been custom-designed for Electrify America and have several advanced features including liquid-cooled cables. This is the first time that liquid cooled charging cables have received certification.

In December 2017, Electrify America unveiled its first working charging stations in Washington, D.C. and nearby Maryland and Virginia. The 50-kilowatt dual-standard stations, which can provide about 100 miles of EV driving range with a 30-minute charge.

Eric Walz

Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.