EVgo, REI, BMW, Nissan and the Regional Air Quality Council Celebrate National Drive Electric Week in Colorado

DENVER, Sept. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EVgo, the nation's largest network of public electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations, BMW, REI, Nissan and the Regional Air Quality Council celebrated National Drive Electric Week together in Colorado to increase awareness of electric vehicles and the state's $5,000 state tax credit for EV buyers. These more convenient charging options allow EV drivers to travel even farther with increased access to Colorado's varied terrain and beauty.

As part of the National Drive Electric Week celebration, EVgo will unveil a DC Fast public charging station in Colorado during a ribbon cutting ceremony at REI's Denver flagship store, on September 12. This 50 kWh dual-port charger is the 975^th DC Fast charger on the EVgo network and one of 224 EVgo DC Fast chargers to be installed across 33 states by the end of 2017 as a result of EVgo, BMW and Nissan's joint efforts to increase the growth of DC Fast charging infrastructure across the country for all EV drivers with DC Fast-capable vehicles. The expansion of public fast charging stations provides EV drivers with the charge they can easily go where they want to go and enable wider adoption of plug-in EVs.

The new DC Fast charging station, which is capable of charging up to 150 miles of range per hour, will give REI customers the ability to charge their electric vehicles easily while shopping for the latest outdoor equipment. EVs fit well into REI's customer's active and sustainability conscious lifestyles, as they're able to charge up quickly before heading on to their next adventure in the great outdoors.

As part of their longstanding partnership with EVgo, starting at 11:00 a.m. BMW will offer attendees and REI shoppers the opportunity to test drive an electric BMW i3 or a plug-in hybrid electric BMW X5 xDrive40e iPerformance at Civic Center Park. All new BMW i3 vehicles in an EVgo metro area come with 2 years of complimentary charging on the EVgo network.

EVgo's DC Fast chargers are 50 kW stations capable of charging EVs up to 80 percent in about 25-30 minutes, as compared to the longer time required to recharge at a Level 2 (240V) charger, currently the most commonly available public charging station. EVgo charging stations are strategically located near shopping and dining establishments along convenient, well-traveled routes to allow EV owners to travel with confidence.

The opening of the REI station marks the continued expansion of EVgo, BMW and Nissan's multi-year partnerships to increase public access to DC Fast charging stations across the U.S. As a result of their work together, more than 90 percent of BMW i3 and Nissan LEAF drivers can easily take advantage of EVgo's DC Fast charging stations nearby, in 33 states. BMW i3 and iPerformance drivers can easily locate the charging stations with ConnectedDrive in the vehicle, using either the in-vehicle Navigation or the BMW ConnectedApp. Nissan LEAF owners can find these chargers using the Nissan LEAF EZ-Charge smartphone app.

"At EVgo we are extremely proud to partner with BMW, Nissan, REI, the Regional Air Quality Council and National Drive Electric Week to continue to build out EV charging infrastructure," said Rob Barrosa, Vice President of OEM Strategy and Business Development at EVgo. "Our partners are committed to building awareness for the EV revolution and preserving the environment through new technology, such as our DC Fast Chargers. This technology allows for customers to charge faster and travel farther, inspiring more customers to consider purchasing an electric vehicle."

The State of Colorado has one of the greatest electric vehicle incentive programs in the country. On top of the federal tax credit, Colorado will also provide a $5,000 state tax credit. This has significantly reduced the cost of entry to the electric vehicle market in the state. With EVs becoming more available, the need for charging sites has increased steadily and Colorado is one of the state's leading the charge with their forward-thinking approach to charging infrastructure. EVgo is adamant about supporting greater access to public DC Fast charging to make EV and PEV ownership even more enjoyable and to support the widespread adoption of these vehicles across the U.S. 

"Nissan is fully committed to growing the wide-spread adoption of EVs and today's new DC Fast Charger announcement is another important step in the right direction," said Brian Maragno, director, Nissan EV Marketing and Sales Strategy. "Equipped with both CHAdeMO and CCS-style connections, this new site is open to charging for all EVs, advancing our vision of an electrified future."

"Electric vehicles provide substantial air quality benefits through significantly reduced emissions, so each fast charger and EV sold is a step in the right direction," said Steve McCannon, Program Director at the Regional Air Quality Council. "Extended battery ranges and additional DC Fast Chargers such as these at REI will greatly enable EV travel throughout the Metro Area and around the State allowing us to further enjoy the outdoors and our beautiful state."

In attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony at REI will be Rob Barrosa, Vice President of OEM Strategy and Business Development at EVgo, Ryan Bone, Aftersales Area Manager at BMW, Kirk Myers, Senior Manager of Sustainability at REI, and Matt Mines and Steve McCannon at the Regional Air Quality Council. The Ceremony will take place directly following Denver's National Drive Electric Week event taking place at Civic Center Park on Sept. 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will kick off with an informational session and will touch on a variety of EV-related topics including Charge Ahead Colorado, corridor planning, and bus electrification amongst several others.

EVgo currently operates the largest public DC Fast charging network in the country, with over 975 fast chargers in 66 of the top-selling automotive metro areas in the US, and supports all current charging standards. By owning and operating its charging stations, EVgo provides exemplary service and offers a variety of flexible charging plans for drivers including pay-as-you-go, low-cost membership charging plans and unlimited charging plans for customers of partner OEMs, including BMW, Nissan and Ford.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and INFINITI vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com and www.infinitiusa.com, or visit the U.S. media sites nissannews.com and infinitinews.com.

About EVgo
EVgo leads America's electric vehicle revolution. Our mission: Build the nation's largest EV charging network while improving the planet and boosting the economy. We put the right chargers in the right places. Together we unite the EV movement for all, making it unstoppable. EVgo provides access to hundreds of public charging sites across the United States. To find out more, or to join the EVgo network, visit www.evgo.com. Connect with EVgo on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Charge Ahead Colorado
Charge Ahead Colorado is a program formed in partnership by the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to improve air quality and encourage the deployment of electric vehicles. The program provides grants to qualifying entities to support the purchase of electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations. The next application round for Charge Ahead Colorado grant funding will open in September 2017. Visit www.CleanAirFleets.org for more information.

Contacts:
Brian Alexander/Amanda Niklowitz
JMPR Public Relations
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SOURCE EVgo

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