ZapGo
ZapGo forms JV to support ultra-fast charging for EVs in Norway

UK tech company ZapGo and Norway’s AS Green Cube Innovation have established a joint venture (JV) to commercialise ultra-fast charging units for electric vehicles (EVs).

The JV will install ultra-fast charging units featuring 350kW to 1.2MW charging capacity that will reduce the time taken by a car, truck, bus or ferry to fully charge.

The charging units will incorporate ZapGo’s Carbon-Ion (C-Ion) technology. Units will be initially installed at AS Green Cube Innovation’s existing charging stations in the greater Oslo area by mid-2020.

AS Green Cube Innovation chairman Erik Brøndmo said: “ZapGo’s C-Ion technology significantly reduces the time required to charge batteries for cars, trucks, buses and ferries, while also reducing the need for costly public infrastructure investments.

“The use of ZapGo’s C-Ion technology at our fuelling stations will cater to Norway’s EV owners by greatly shortening their charging time. It is a true win/win for Norwegian consumers, transportation companies, the public sector and the environment.”

"According to the Norwegian Road Federation, around 60% of new car sales in March 2019 were electric vehicles."

A 350kW charger unit will be able to transfer around 100kWh of energy in 15 minutes to a vehicle, which is required to drive an electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) 300 miles (or about 500km) at freeway or Autobahn speeds.

The new chargers will have the capability to identify the vehicle type and accordingly adjust the maximum safe charging speed. Units will automatically switch as vehicles become available that can be charged at very high rates.

ZapGo CEO Stephen Voller said: “Norway is the ideal initial market for ZapGo’s ultra-fast charging technology, due to the high concentration of electric vehicles in use.

“According to the Norwegian Road Federation, about 60% of new car sales in March 2019 were EVs. Drivers who live in apartments or travel long distances will require much faster charging at service stations, because they will not want to wait for hours queuing at public chargers and won’t be able to plug in at home.”