OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. is working with charging network Electrify America to bring public ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to seven locations in six U.S. states.
Five charging stations are now open in Erick, Okla.; Tucumcari and Santa Rosa, N.M.; Salina, Utah; Davenport, Fla.; and two will open soon in Binghamton, N.Y., and Quartzsite, Ariz.
The chain will have a combined 28 EV chargers and be available for public use by early 2021, with five locations already open. The most recent Love’s station opening in Salina, Utah, helped complete a cross-country route of Electrify America chargers spanning from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.
“As we continue building charging stations at accessible sites, Love’s Travel Stops was a perfect fit because of its convenient locations near major highways,” said Rachel Moses, senior manager for site acquisition, development and strategy at Electrify America. “Providing EV drivers with the opportunity to charge their vehicles at Love’s locations will help instill confidence for longer interstate trips, and can encourage more consumers to consider making the switch to electric.”
Depending on the location, Love’s customers will have access to chargers ranging in power from 150 kilowatt (kW) to 350 kW. Electric vehicles capable of accepting a 350 kW charge can add up to 20 miles of range per minute, helping alleviate range anxiety that many consumers associate with EV road trips.
“Our goal is to provide all drivers with safe, convenient places to stop and refuel—and that includes the growing number of electric vehicle drivers,” said Frank Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “We’re committed to initiatives and solutions that reduce emissions, and excited to add EV charging stations at our locations.”
Electrify America LLC, the largest open direct current (DC) fast charging network in the U.S., is investing $2 billion over 10 years in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education and access. Electrify America expects to install or have under development approximately 800 total charging stations with about 3,500 DC fast chargers by December 2021. During this period, the company will be expanding to 29 metros and 45 states, including two cross-country routes.
Love’s, with more than 520 locations in 41 states, is No. 16 on CSP’s 2020 Top 202 ranking of the largest c-store chains.
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