BGE unveils four 150+ kW electric vehicle fast chargers, announces six additional to be installed

Published on May 26, 2021 by Chris Galford

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BGE rolled out four of its fastest electric vehicle chargers to date this week in Maryland, establishing 150+ kW capacity chargers capable of charging vehicles in moments for public use at the BWI cell phone lot in Baltimore.

An additional six of these chargers will be rolled out at BWI’s Rideshare Lot shortly. All of these chargers are funded in part by a U.S. Department of Energy grant awarded last year. In all, this grant will also help support an EV Rideshare Program of up to 100 electric vehicles. That program will be administered by a rideshare provider with an eye on providing access to cleaner, more equitable point-to-point transportation options. BGE will partner with Lyft on this project.

“Expanding access to electric vehicles and infrastructure is a major step toward ensuring a cleaner and brighter future for our community,” BGE CEO Carim Khouzami said. “We are excited about this first step related to our EV Rideshare Program and our public EV infrastructure rollout, and to partner with Lyft to help drivers and riders benefit from cleaner transportation.”

For BGE, the chargers are part of the company’s EVsmart Program. This program also offers customers rebates, tools, and information for the transfer to electric.

Lyft and BGE plan to support further electric car initiatives in the greater Baltimore area. BGE intends to install and operate a 500 charger network of L2 chargers, 50 kW DC fast chargers, and 150 kW DC fast chargers. Optimal locations are still being determined in conjunction with state, county, and municipal government agencies. Customers can apply for rebates to help offset the cost of any chargers.

“At Lyft, we’ve committed to reaching 100 percent electric vehicles on the network by 2030, and partnerships like this one with BGE will help propel us toward our goal,” Jon Walker, Sustainability Policy Manager for Lyft, said. “EVs have the potential to make a transformational impact on society and the environment, and we’re uniquely positioned to help ensure that their benefits are distributed equitably – especially as nearly half of Lyft rides start or end in historically underserved communities.”