Tritium plays key role in largest public EV fast charging site in US

Brisbane-based Tritium has played a key role in what is thought to be the largest public DC fast-charging (DCFC) station for electric vehicles in the US.

The 20 Tritium RT50/50kW DC fast chargers installed by Tritium sit alongside 24 Tesla superchargers at the Marengo Charging Plaza in Pasadena, California.

Owned by community-owned utility and not-for-profit Pasadena Water and Power (PWP), the addition of the twenty 50kW charging units from Tritium forms part of a goal to achieve a 50% green portfolio by 2030.

According to Dennis Pascual, a locally-based electric vehicle and clean energy advocate who noted the installation when it was first installed in February via Linked In, the large number of apartments in the area means the DCFC site is perfectly located for those that do not have access to private electric vehicle charging.

“True energy freedom can only be realized when you no longer have to plan for a complete battery fill-up,” Mike Calise, Tritium’s president in the US, said in a statement.

“Tritium is driving this but considering all the stakeholders involved in this ground-breaking project, it’s the City of Pasadena that’s the real leader for making this possible in 2020.”

In Australia, it is common to place DC fast charger site on key corridors between cities, although there are now a few within city limits such as at Melbourne’s Airport West, where there are 4 ultra-rapid 350kW chargers and three 50kW fast chargers, and in Sydney at Zetland where there are 2 ultra-rapid 350kW chargers and one 50kW fast charger.

“We’ve been talking about an installation such as this for some time, with a car park doubling as a charging oasis for drivers and as a potential revenue opportunity for retail outlets and car park operators,” said James Kennedy, CTO and co-founder of Tritium in a note by email to The Driven.

“The City of Pasadena is leading the way here, and it should act as an example for Australian organisations. Those spaces in shopping centres and garages across Australia can be more than simply a spot to park.”

“DC applications are expanding well beyond corridor or city-to-city connections,” says Calise.

Of the Pasadena site, Calise says: “Installations like this are changing the way drivers think about dwell charging. It’s a super-fast dwell charger available on Main Street America. At the end of the day, it doesn’t take until the end of the day to fill up!”

PWP’s Marvin Moo says the addition of the 20 Tritium chargers to the 24 Tesla superchargers is what cities need to reduce range anxiety and encourage drivers to make the switch to electric.

“We believe that fast-charging facilities like the Marengo Charging Plaza provide Pasadena residents and commuters with the confidence they need to drive electric.

A charge-for-free period will continue until the end of May, after which drivers can use the chargers via the Greenlots charging network, or by using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a Tap and Go Credit Card.