New stations charge EVs in under 15 minutes
ChargePoint’s new stations are capable of delivering up to 400 kW to a single vehicle, charging vehicles in less than 15 minutes
ChargePoint’s new stations are capable of delivering up to 400 kW to a single vehicle, charging vehicles in less than 15 minutes.
One of the largest challenges inhibiting the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is the fear amongst consumers that their vehicle could run out of charge whilst travelling and that charging it will be hugely time-consuming.
California-based firm, ChargePoint, hopes to alleviate these concerns with the introduction of their Express Plus ultra-fast DC charging network.
The chargers, which will debut at station operators this summer, will enable owners to charge their vehicle in just minutes, the time it takes them to stop for a coffee.
Pasquale Romano, Chief Executive of ChargePoint, said: "By the time your latte hits the end of the counter, your car’s probably charged. That’s what we want to get this to".
He also said: "The benchmark for us was gasoline…it can’t be any harder than going to a gas station."
Traditional petrol station stops take approximately 10 minutes and replenish at least 300 miles of range in most cars.
Currently, the best EV chargers can deliver 145 kW, replenishing 170 miles of range in roughly 30 minutes.
Express Plus is capable of delivering up to 400 kW to a single vehicle in less than 15 minutes.
The high-efficiency power conversion of Express Plus – more than 96 per cent efficiency – reduces electricity costs and wasted energy.
ChargePoint doesn't operate any EV charging stations; instead it sells equipment and licenses its technology to other businesses such as hotels or malls that wish to provide charging services to their customers.
One of the advantages of Express Plus, Romano said, is that it is both flexible and scalable.
Today, it can charge the current array of EVs, but it can also be upgraded to handle the EVs of the future, such as buses and trucks.
Consequently, station owners can start small and expand to the highest charging capacity in the industry without any stranded investment by adding more Power Modules, Stations and Power Cubes as demand increases.
