April 17, 2018 | News Brief | ABB has been selected to supply its Terra HP charging stations as part of the biggest electric vehicle infrastructure project to date in the US. The chargers, which can refresh even the largest electric vehicle battery in under 15 minutes, were selected for deployment by Electrify America, which plans to place hundreds of charging stations within and around 17 metropolitan areas and along multiple nationwide highway corridors.
Creating a national network of fast charging stations, the EV equivalent of fueling stations, is considered crucial for widespread adoption of electric cars in the US.
“Electrify America wanted experienced partners to deploy high power charging technologies that equally serve every battery electric vehicles today, as well as the next generation of large batteries, and we’re pleased to have ABB as one of our key suppliers,” said Seth Cutler, chief engineer, Electrify America. “These new charging systems are designed to provide an optimal driver experience, offering fast, convenient, and reliable service whenever and wherever they need it.”
The ambitious effort will undoubtedly accelerate the adoption of EVs in the coming years. Nearly 200,000 EVs were sold in the US in 2017. However, the country’s charging infrastructure hasn’t kept the pace required to spur mass adoption of electric transportation. Among some prospective consumers, “range anxiety”, wondering if they will find someplace to recharge their batteries during a road trip, continues to be a deterrent when it comes to electric vehicles. ABB’s Terra HP eliminates those worries. The Terra HP, which can operate at powers of up to 350 kilowatts, is able to add almost 200 miles (320 kilometers) of range to an EV in a time frame not much longer than needed to refuel a gas engine vehicle.
Electrify America’s plan to place chargers on its highway routes at intervals of no more than 120 miles (195 kilometers) means that drivers can be confident they’ll be able to reach their destinations. ABB’s Terra HP chargers are compatible with both the CCS and CHAdeMO DC fast charging standards, enabling drivers to buy the electric vehicle of their choice with confidence that it will work at all of Electrify America‘s charging sites.
