Fuel distributor and retailer Parkland Corp. has partnered with EV charging solutions firm FreeWire Technologies to deploy ultra-fast charging across the British Columbia province of Canada, as the country marches towards its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
FreeWire Founder and CEO Arcady Sosinov said this will be the largest deployment of battery-integrated ultrafast chargers in the North America region.
“Our technology will help Parkland to provide coverage in areas where securing new, larger grid connections would make installing such infrastructure more challenging, making it possible for drivers to get a premium charge in the same amount of time it takes to grab a meal on the go - all without impacting the electrical grid,” Sosinov said.
In the initial phase, the firms will deploy FreeWire's battery-integrated Boost Charger, which is a 150-kW ultra-fast EV charging station, enabling customers to achieve a range of 200 miles in 15 minutes. The Boost Charger can be plugged into existing low-voltage utility services and yet deliver high-power charging. This means, no extensive site improvements and grid upgrades will be needed to deploy this flexible solution.
"We are committed to staying one step ahead of our customers' evolving needs,”
Darren Smart, Senior Vice President, Energy Transition and Corporate Development, Parkland, said. “Using battery-integrated chargers will mitigate the need for time-consuming and costly electrical upgrades, allowing us to expand our charging network quickly and efficiently, as customer need increases. Also, because they constantly trickle charge, these chargers significantly reduce strain on our utility grids and minimize our peak demand charges."
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The chargers will be deployed in dense urban locations as well as remote locations.
Moreover, the chargers will be integrated with Parkland's JOURNIE Rewards App and loyalty programs. Charging will be free for app users in the first launch period.
FreeWire’s solutions are currently in use by traditional fuelers including bp, Chevron and Phillips 66.
The EV charging infrastructure startup has secured more than $100 million in funding from investors that include Riverstone Holdings, bp ventures, Energy Innovation Capital and TRIREC.
