First 150-kW Charging Station in U.S. Opens for Testing

EVgo Services has opened a test station in Fremont, Calif., that will allow electric vehicles to be recharged at a rate of 150 kW—three times more powerful and faster than current public stations.

Tesla Inc.’s Supercharger network, which is available only to the company’s own EV customers, can deliver as much as 120 kW of direct-current power.

The new charging station, which is manufactured by ABB and uses the combined charging system (CCS) protocol, will be available to carmakers, suppliers, researchers and electrical certification and building code officials on request. The facility won't be open to the public. It will be used to study utility impacts, installation standards, permitting, and building and safety requirements.

EVgo says the system can be upgraded to 350 kW as in-vehicle technology improves.

At 150 kW, the system can provide about nine miles of driving range per one minute of charging. This compares with three miles per minute for 50-kW units. A 350-kW charger is expected to provide more than 20 miles per minute.

Two carmakers have announced plans to sell vehicles in the U.S. within two years that will charge at “significantly higher” rates than current EVs, EVgo notes.  And five companies are collaborating to build several hundred 350-kW stations throughout Europe.

The Fremont station will be located at a Lucky Supermarket. EVgo says it chose the site because the area currently has the highest traffic within EVgo’s current charger network.

With more than 900 stations in 66 U.S. markets, hte company says it operates the largest public fast-charge network in the country. Earlier this year the Los Angeles-based company opened 174 50-kW stations in partnership with BMW and Nissan that can support both CCS and CHAdeMo connectors.