(GREENWOOD, Ind., May 25, 2012) Plug-in vehicle (PEV) owners now have more options to recharge their vehicles when in the Plainfield and Greenwood areas. The Indiana-based Energy Systems Network’s (ESN) Project Plug-IN initiative and its partners unveiled two Level 3 “quick chargers” at two Wal-Mart locations in these communities yesterday.
ESN partnered with Murphy USA and Eaton Corporation to install these quick charging stations, making them the first in the Indianapolis region. Eaton’s DC Level 3 Quick Chargers provide dramatically faster charging time for PEVs – as short as 10-30 minutes. This results in a more convenient way for PEV owners to recharge and get back on the road, while also reducing “range anxiety.”
“There are now hundreds of plug-in vehicles throughout the state, and the addition of quick charging allows customers to fully recharge cars while they take a break to shop and dine,” said ESN President & CEO Paul Mitchell. “It’s exciting to see leading global retailers offering this advanced new technology to their customers.”
Angelos Lambis, Vice President of Murphy USA, reiterated the importance of pursuing the deployment of this technology. “Murphy USA will use this electric vehicle charging station, along with its sister electric vehicle charging station in Plainfield, to help us better understand this new potential market segment,” Lambis said. “I am excited to introduce Indiana’s first retail deployment of the ‘quick charge’ Level 3 charger. It’s another important step towards understanding just how influential this equipment is likely to be and the feasibility of taking it to scale.”
Eaton Corporation emphasized its focus on creating innovative and affordable technology to assist its customers in reducing their impact on the environment, as well as the need to continue pursuing a strategy for public infrastructure deployment. “For plug-ins to be adopted widely across the country, it’s important that customers have a sense of confidence that there’s an infrastructure behind them that will allow them to charge wherever they are,” said Tom Schafer, Vice President of Eaton Corporation.
“Collaboration with companies like Murphy is important in establishing that confidence and building that initial infrastructure.”
The charging stations are located at the Murphy USA stations at 1235 N. Emerson Avenue in Greenwood and 2375 E. Main Street in Plainfield, and are free of charge for plug-in vehicle drivers for a limited time.
About Energy Systems Network and Project Plug-IN: Energy Systems Network (ESN) is a not-for-profit, industry-driven economic initiative focused on the development of Indiana’s “clean tech” sector. ESN provides project development and coordination for joint ventures and cooperative partnerships between network members who are seeking to bring new energy technologies, products or applications to market. Project Plug-IN, one of ESN’s initiatives, is a commercial scale pilot of plug-in electric vehicles and smart grid technology working together to demonstrate an energy efficient transportation system solution. ESN and Project Plug-IN received U.S. Department of Energy grant funding through the Indiana Office of Energy Development (IOED) for the deployment of electric vehicles and charging stations. For more information, visit www.energysystemsnetwork.com and www.projectplugin.com.
