Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan and EVgo, America’s largest public electric vehicle (EV) fast charging network, have announced their intention to expand the charging network for EV drivers across the United States with the installation of 200 new 100 kW direct current fast chargers (DCFC).
The network expansion will see the two companies jointly invest the funds necessary to install 200 100 kW fast-chargers which have both CHAdeMO and CCS connectors, allowing more EV drivers to benefit from the network.
The new investment builds on the existing six-year partnership between the two companies in the United States, which has already seen Nissan invest over US$60 million (AU$90 million) in charging infrastructure for the benefit of owners of all types of electric vehicles.
Now, more than 100 million Americans currently live within a 15-minute drive of an EVgo fast charger – including those built in partnership with Nissan along the I-95 corridor on the East Coast and the DRIVEtheARC corridor in California running from Monterey to Lake Tahoe.
“Nissan is proud to have partnered with EVgo to build the largest public EV fast charging network in the US,” said Aditya Jairaj, director of EV sales and marketing for Nissan North America in a note by email.
“Given the tremendous driver response to the 2019 long-range1Â all-electric LEAF, Nissan and EVgo will accelerate fast charging by committing to a multi-year charger construction program that will continue to expand fast-charging options for EV drivers across the country.”
“EVgo is thrilled to expand our six-year partnership with Nissan to provide convenient and reliable fast charging to EV drivers, including Nissan LEAF drivers, on the nation’s largest and most reliable public network,” added EVgo CEO Cathy Zoi in a statement to the press.
“This new phase of our partnership means that EVgo and Nissan will continue to lead in enabling more American drivers to take advantage of the benefits of electric vehicles.”
In addition to investing to expand the charging network, Nissan and EVgo will also run a co-marketing program to help inform and raise awareness among US EV drivers about the advantages of switching to electric – which will, naturally, include highlighting the Nissan LEAF PLUS and EVgo’s network of more than 1,200 public fast chargers spread across the United States.
Likely to be highlighted as well is the October 2018 news that EVgo’s charging stations will now be available on Google Maps.
The internet giant has added several charging station networks to its maps in both the United Kingdom and United States, and provide key information about each station, including the types of ports available, how many, as well as charging speeds.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.