Mitsubishi, NRG to Charge Texas

In what may very well be the first move of such proportions from Japanese automaker Mitsubishi on the American EV front, a partnership with power utility NRG Energy that targets the development of an electric infrastructure for the state of Texas was announced this week.

The eVgo charging infrastructure, which will be set in place by NRG, will comprise the so-called Freedom Stations and Convenience Stations. The Freedom units are equipped with a 480 volt DC fast charger and a 240 volt Level 2 charger, while the Convenience ones will only offer a 240 volt Level 2 charger.

NRG plans to deploy 35 Freedom Stations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area open by the end of this summer (up to 75 by the end of next year) and at the same time electrify the Interstate 45 corridor. Of course, the stations will serve EV owners regardless of the make of the vehicles they drive. As with any other project of this size, however, the involvement of an automaker into the creation of the infrastructure is welcome.

In Mitsubishi's case, it will act as a consultant to NRG in the development of the charging infrastructure. As a treat, owners of Mitsubishi electric vehicles will be given the option to subscribe to special EV Charging Package rates offered by NRG.

"Through this partnership, owners of Mitsubishi i electric vehicles will find tremendous convenience, economy and price security through their access to the eVgo network," said Arun Banskota, president of NRG EV Services. "We welcome Mitsubishi to the eVgo partnership and look forward to building an unprecedented and growing EV infrastructure together."