Electrify America unveiled a new design vision for its future electric vehicle charging stations. Their network currently operates over 730 stations in the U.S. and the company is looking to improve the design of the stations, introduce next-generation chargers, add solar awnings and include more onsite battery energy storage systems.
With updates to the chargers, including better displays and cable management, and to the stations themselves, Electrify America is referring to its offering as “The Charging Station of the Future, Today”.
Design Features
“The redesigned stations will feature customer lounges, electric vehicle showcase areas, and dedicated events spaces. They will also come with overhead solar canopies that have a dual effect: offering protection from the sun and inclement weather, and supplying power for the station’s operations.”
Some stations located at select shopping locations may even offer valet charging and curbside delivery. The comfort and convenience of this new design elevates the charging experience for the customer and supports Electrify America’s growing coast-to-coast network of fast and reliable chargers.
We’re particularly compelled by the addition of solar awnings and using the energy captured by solar to help power the electric vehicle charging stations – a dual clean energy win!
Next-Generation Charger
Electrify America is also rolling out a redesigned electric vehicle charger. The ultra-fast chargers with up to 150 and 250 kW of charging power will include a recessed and brighter HMI (human-machine interface) to make for easier viewing, a single connector cable to reach the charging port, and a reduced footprint of the charger and power cabinets so that more equipment can be installed in urban locations. The company also plans to keep their recognizable green glow, maintaining brand familiarity.
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Electrify America plans to expand the deployment of onsite battery energy storage systems (BESS) to over 150 stations. This is effective for managing the energy load to the grid and for capturing excess solar energy.
A Customer-Centric Experience
Throughout 2022 and 2023, the company plans to unveil their new features in select flagship charging facilities in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego and Beverly Hills, CA and in New York’s Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs.
Giovanni Palazzo, president and CEO of Electrify America, commented that their customer research showed “the need to transition to a charging experience that is more inviting and accommodating to the human experience with waiting areas and other conveniences.”
Most electric vehicle charging station designs have not yet focused on providing amenities as part of the charging experience and as the competition heats up in this space, we predict that the demand for such features will follow – not to mention the need for improved charging basics like overhead lighting. The transition to electric vehicles parallels a shift in lifestyle and the new design makes it clear that Electrify America understands and wants to help facilitate this. They are leading the charge (no pun intended) to integrate technology innovations with a customer-focused experience.
Sona wants to help your organization prioritize energy and cost savings by finding the EV charging solution that best fits your needs. Reach out to us today and we’ll get you started on the path to EV.
