Road trips in electric vehicles could soon become more feasible and easier to plan with Electrify America charging stations coming to travel centers across the U.S.
Electrify America and TravelCenters of America detailed a new partnership Monday to install 1,000 chargers at 200 TravelCenters locations along major highways over the next five years. The companies plan to launch the first chargers this year.
The partnership will add Electrify America charging stations to major travel corridors, aiming to ease consumers' range anxiety on road trips, Rachel Moses, an Electrify America director, told Automotive News.
The installation will further expand access to EV chargers along highways. General Motors, EVgo and Pilot Flying J in July made a similar agreement, with plans to install 2,000 chargers at 500 Pilot Flying J travel centers.
The pace of installation and the locations of the chargers will depend on grant funds and utilization by region, TravelCenters of America spokesperson Tina Arundel told Automotive News. TravelCenters currently has a handful of charging sites with Tesla, FreeWire and ChargePoint, she said.
The travel centers have the space needed to build EV charging infrastructure, Arundel said. TravelCenters of America operates 281 locations in 44 states. Those sites include diesel and gasoline fueling, truck maintenance and repair, full-service and quick-service restaurants, travel stores, car and truck parking.
Electrify America plans to own and operate 1,800 charging stations by 2026. The sites maintained by Electrify America and owned by TravelCenters of America are in addition to that tally, Moses said.
Because TravelCenters of America's network lines high-traffic highway corridors, "it really pushes the needle of [EV] adoption because it's in locations where not only drivers of today are able to get the best customer amenities, but it also helps those that are considering switching to an EV tomorrow," Moses said.
Working with TravelCenters of America also gives Electrify America additional highway access that had been limited, she said.
TravelCenters of America will purchase Electrify America's DC fast chargers, and Electrify America will install, operate and maintain the chargers. Electrify America will also provide warranty and around-the-clock support services.
Today, Electrify America has 800 charging stations and 3,500 chargers across the U.S. The company operates in 46 states and plans to expand to 49 states and the District of Columbia.
Any electric make or model can charge at Electrify America charge points, though Tesla owners need an adapter.
