Oregon Tribal Casino Welcomes Four GridLink DC Charging Stations

XCharge North America has combined on-site solar and battery storage to power up newly connected electric vehicle charging stations at the tribally owned Arrowhead Travel Plaza in Pendleton, Oregon.

The four GridLink chargers deployed by XCharge North America serve EV drivers coming into or around the Wildhorse Resort and Casino owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“This project supports the Tribe's dedication to sustainable practices and our mission to deliver a forward-thinking experience for all guests and travelers," said Gary E. George, Chief Executive Officer at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, in a statement.

The GridLink chargers are open and available to the public. Each charge can utilize about 10 kW of solar-powered electricity as well as direct connection of up to 44 kW from the grid, in addition to the 30 kW of solar energy supplied directly into each battery. Altogether it can provide about 194 kW output from each unit.

The Arrowhead Travel Plaza serves more than 1.7 million vehicles along Interstate 84.

With the installation of the dual-dispenser GridLink chargers at the Oregon casino site, XCharge North America has expanded its EV charging footprint to 18 U.S. states.

“Helping create Oregon’s first solar-supplemented DC fast-charging site marks a major milestone in XCharge’s journey of innovation and sustainability," said Aatish Patel, co-founder and president of XCharge North America. "Our Arrowhead Travel Plaza installation goes beyond simply delivering ultra-fast charging—it’s a powerful demonstration of how integrating our GridLink technology with solar power can offset grid demand, enhance a charging site’s resilience and flexibility, and even bolster the region’s energy architecture.”

Each GridLink is equipped with an advanced thermal runaway management system, applying four dedicated sensors to stay aware of any potential fire or overheating risks. The system can isolate air and suppress ignition at the first indication of trouble, the company says.

NetZero Energy Inc. was a key developer and designer of the Arrowhead-XCharge collaboration and build-out of the project.

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