LANSING, Mich. -- A Michigan convenience-store chain has become the latest fuel retailer to add electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations.
USA 2 GO Quick Stores, Lansing, Mich., which has five c-stores in Southeast Michigan, has added the DC fast-charge stations to its locations in Novi and Howell. Both sites are located on I-96, said to be one of the state's busiest highways.
The c-store retailer is adding the charging stations in partnership with Nissan, manufacturer of the Leaf EV, as part of its No Charge to Charge program. The program, launched in 2014, offers customers who buy or lease a new Leaf with two years of free public charging at a network of participating locations. Nissan is debuting its latest-generation Leaf EV in September. Other c-store retailers that have partnered with Nissan include Mark Oil, Calloway Oil, Ricker Oil, Terrible Herbst, Spinx Co., Mapco and Sheetz.
The DC fast-charge stations can charge an EV battery in about 30 minutes, and include CHAdeMO and CCS DC fast-charge outlets to accommodate different EV models. They were installed with the help of EVgo, an EV charging station owner and operator, and GoSpace, an EV charging station installation provider.
These two sites would join 13 others now operating in Michigan, all as part of Nissan’s No Charge to Charge program. Nissan has assisted in the installation of 55% of CHAdeMO fast-charge connections in the United States. In April, Nissan and EVgo announced plans to add nine EV DC fast-charge sites along I-95 in the Northeast, which will be operational by this fall. The I-95 Fast-Charge ARC project would provide charging along the 500-mile route between Boston and Washington, D.C.
"Nissan is dedicated to building a convenient EV charging infrastructure across the U.S. While it's not a priority for everyone, we firmly believe a robust infrastructure is key to the growth of EVs," said JeSean Hopkins, senior manager of EV infrastructure strategy and business development for Nissan North America, Franklin, Tenn. "Adding these fast chargers to Michigan's EV infrastructure will benefit all regional EV owners, regardless of make or model."
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