At last week’s Washington Auto Show, Nissan outlined a strategy to deploy at least 500 quick-charging stations over the next 18 months, which it says will triple the public quick-charging infrastructure in the US. The company is obviously hoping that giving drivers additional charging options will increase public interest in EVs, and lead to more LEAF sales. Nissan is working with its dealers, local municipalities, and infrastructure partners that include NRG Energy’s eVgo Network.
“We envision a quick-charging network that links communities and neighborhoods where people live, work, shop and socialize,” said Nissan’s Brendan Jones. “Having a robust charging infrastructure helps build range confidence, which boosts interest in and use of electric vehicles. By improving the charging infrastructure, Nissan furthers its commitment to bringing electric vehicles to markets throughout the United States.”
A key part of the plan will be eVgo’s new network of 40 Freedom Station sites across the greater Washington, DC area, which the company says will be the first public quick chargers in the region. NRG currently operates similar networks in Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth, and has announced plans for networks in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Joaquin Valley areas. Service plans offered by eVgo offer unlimited charging at Freedom Stations for a monthly fee.
“NRG’s new ecosystem in the greater Washington, DC area will provide range confidence and convenience to EV drivers,” said eVgo VP Glen Stancil. “Nissan’s fast chargers are a critical element of the overall ecosystem, which will also include charging solutions for single-family homes, multi-family communities and workplaces.”
Nissan also aims to encourage more employers to offer charging. “There are now about 1,500 private charging stations that exist in workplaces, allowing for what’s called ‘end-to-end’ charging. That means that the car’s battery is fully charged when the driver leaves home, and it will be fully charged when that person leaves work,” said Nissan’s Brendan Jones. “It’s another way to give electric vehicle drivers more flexibility to run errands and make other stops between work and home.”