Sawtelle-based EVgo Inc. has expanded yet again its partnership with Meijer, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based grocery retailer, this time to bring up to 480 electric vehicle fast-charging stalls to Meijer stores in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
EVgo and Meijer initially formed their partnership in March 2021, with EVgo committing to install an unspecified number of charging stalls at Meijer stores. At the time, Meijer operated more than 250 stores in the six Midwestern states; today, that number has roughly doubled.
By November of last year, EVgo had installed 24 charging stalls at six Meijer store locations in Michigan and Ohio. (Each charging stall is served by a pump dispenser hose that can connect to an electric vehicle.)
With this latest announcement on Nov. 19, EVgo has committed to installing up to 60 new stations containing up to 480 new charging stalls at Meijer stores by the end of 2027. Each stall will have a pump dispenser with a 350-kilowatt capacity that can bring a vehicle battery at 10% charge to 80% charge in less than 20 minutes, a so-called fast charger.
The idea is to provide charge for several days of typical electric vehicle operation within the time it takes the driver to shop for groceries at a Meijer store.
“Fast charging should be an effortless part of drivers’ daily routines, and nothing is more routine than a trip to the grocery store,” said EVgo President Dennis Kish.
“EV adoption is growing in the Midwest, and by adding hundreds of new fast charging stalls with the region’s leading supercenter, EVgo’s partnership with Meijer shows our companies’ shared commitment to delivering an elevated charging experience for EV drivers living or traveling throughout the Midwest,” Kish added.
This expanded partnership is part of EVgo’s broader work to provide a customer-focused nationwide charging network. In October, EVgo received a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $1.05 billion from the Department of Energy if the debt financing is finalized. The aim of the financing package is to accelerate the company’s deployment of fast-charging stations in community locations.
EVgo shares rose more than 8% to $5.87 on Nov. 19 after the Meijer announcement; since then, shares have continued to rise, closing Dec. 3 at $6.39.
