The first rapid charging station for electric vehicles traveling on and near Interstate 95 in northeastern North Carolina will be unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for April 13 at 10 a.m. at the Oasis Travel Center off interstate Exit 168.
The three-phase power charger – a rarity in this part of the state – has been purchased and deployed by Roanoke Electric Cooperative, the member-owned energy provider that has served the region since 1938.
The power source, the EdgeEV70, was manufactured and installed by EdgeEnergy, a subsidiary of Single Phase Power Solutions LLC of Cincinnati.
The rapid charging station will enable EVs to receive a full battery charge in approximately 30 minutes as opposed to four to six hours for lower-phase charging stations, according to the company.
“On behalf of the region’s EV owners, local businesses that will benefit from increased traffic, and motorists passing through the area, Roanoke Electric Cooperative is thrilled to bring this innovative and – in our region – extremely rare technology to fruition,” said Curtis Wynn, Roanoke Electric’s president and chief executive officer. “Rapid EV charging stations are few and far between in northeastern North Carolina. The ribbon-cutting reflects our determination to bring more clean energy resources to this part of the state to retain its beauty and accelerate its economic growth.”
EdgeEnergy says its new EdgeEV70 technology is “ideal for remote areas without access to three-phase power. The power source uses revolutionary, patented technology to generate solid and reliable three-phase, 480-volt output from existing single-phase infrastructure. This allows EV charging stations to be installed across a variety of rural locations where three-phase power is unavailable or cost-prohibitive to install,” said Ben Morris, director of sales and marketing of EdgeEnergy.
Roanoke Electric Cooperative provides service to 14,500 members in Bertie, Hertford, Halifax, Northampton, Gates, Perquimans, and Chowan counties.
Chartered in 1938 to provide light and power to farms, the co-op today serves as an engine of economic development and provides educational, recreational and community assistance services to enhance the quality of life of its member-owners throughout the diverse communities it serves.
