LA PALMA, Calif. — An ampm store in Lodi, Calif., has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging from FreeWire Technologies. The installation of the Boost Charger in Lodi is the first of its kind, and FreeWire expects to expand to additional locations this year and throughout 2021.
Boost Charger is the first battery-integrated ultrafast EV charger deployed in the United States, according to the San Leandro, Calif.-based tech company. By using the integrated battery as a buffer, Boost Charger is able to "boost" the existing power at the site, delivering a high power output, it said.
Boost Charger connects with ampm's existing infrastructure, allowing the system to be installed in hours without requiring a new grid power supply. Boost Charger can be powered from a single-phase connection.
"Fueling stations and convenience stores have had very few options to provide EV charging until now," said Arcady Sosinov, CEO of FreeWire Technologies. "With Boost Charger, EV drivers can get 100 miles of range in 10 minutes, and businesses can drive more revenue from new visitors to their store, all at a dramatically lower cost."
As a fueling station along two major highway thoroughfares in California's Central Valley, the ampm site is positioned to offer publicly accessible high-speed charging. California remains the top market for EV sales at just under 50% share of the total U.S. volume, according to FreeWire.
"We are always seeking ways to provide new, innovative services for our customers," said Kevin Kapala, COO of ampm. "Offering ultrafast electric vehicle charging at our ampm stores supports our brand promise of delivering ultimate convenience."
Boost Charger supports CHAdeMO and Combined Charging System connectors, which are compatible with all battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and Tesla models with an adapter. Drivers can make payments through the EV Connect network, RFID or credit card. Residents and EV commuters can fully charge any BEV in just minutes, with convenient access to the co-located ampm.
- La Palma, Calif.-based BP America, which owns and manages ampm stores, is No. 8 on CSP's 2020 Top 202 ranking of c-stores by store count.
Ampm includes more than 1,000 stores in five states and is owned by BP America Inc., a subsidiary of BP. Its bp ventures first invested in FreeWire Technologies in 2018, supporting BP's wider strategy to accelerate global mobility and redefine the experience of convenience retail.
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