Shell's Greenlots EV charging network working with Chargepoint, EV Connect and FLO networks to develop EV charge "roaming" - Update

 

Shell's Greenlots EV Charging network is joining forces with Chargepoint (see pic above), EV Connect, and FLO to allow for EV network roaming, you know like you do with your phone and bank ATM. This helps make the EV charging experience much easier since you don't have to have an app for every charging network (unless you want one). This should assist in the everall adoption of electric vehicles. Evidently Tesla will open it's Supercharger network later this year, but adapters will be necessary since Tesla uses it's own specific charging plugs and cables. Evidently the upcoming Infrastructure bill has funds to expand EV networks which some say is the reason Tesla is opening up their network. Regardless of the reason these steps will benefit all of us. At this point, there will be no charge for using other networks and charging rates will remain the same, but that could change...like it did at your bank. There are many benefits for everyone. Smaller network's customers get access to a much larger number of charging points in numerous areas and EV network companies get more satisfied customers. It also allows smaller networks to grow. For more info, check out the media release by clicking on "read more." Also, check out the article at Forbes that was written by a Greenlots executive. More to come I'm sure. Good news...

Update: When I originally wrote up this post, no pics were available with the media release, so I checked Greenlots' website and found a charger one mile from where I live. Couldn't find it. So I checked again, had the right address, so I emailed Greenlots for more info. That was several days ago and I've gotten no response. So I checked the site again and found several more chargers near me. This one is at city hall and if you look closely, you can see the Greenlots logo just under the Fast Charger signage. Shouldn't it be easier to find and shouldn't the signage be larger? I guess things will improve aver time.  FYI.

BTW: Why can't I just use my ATM card to purchase power like I do at gas stations?

Source: Greenlots - Media release, Forbes article, Chargepoint pic

Media Release

Greenlots, ChargePoint, EV Connect and FLO Expand EV Charging Through Roaming

More chargers will be easier to find and access, with almost no action required by the driver or site host.

Greenlots, a member of the Shell Group, today announced a significant roaming expansion across the major electric vehicle (EV) charging network partners, including ChargePoint, EV Connect and FLO. Greater charging network interoperability now enables EV drivers to locate, access and pay at more than 54,000 public charging points across the U.S. and Canada. EV drivers can continue to use any of the networks’ proprietary mobile apps, based on individual preference without additional sign-ups, fees or markups.

“This is a great example of collaboration across EV charging networks, and their experts coming together to give consumers and businesses the access they need to continue the transition to EVs with confidence,” said Greenlots Chief Product and Technology Officer, Kuan Archer. “Roaming, in addition to more EV charger installations, plays a key role in driving greater EV adoption through better charging experiences and higher trust in the reliability of today’s infrastructure.”

EV charging accessibility is expected to continue expanding, as new networks develop, installations increase and bilateral roaming partnerships are formed. Overall, increased accessibility supports:

• More opportunities for EV drivers to charge on-the-go
• More seamless, easier and overall better charging experiences at the plug for EV drivers
• Higher reliability for commercial EV fleets and increased efficiency for fleet operators
• Increased utilization of public EV charging stations under roaming agreements
• Automaker and Federal Government ambitions to reach EV development targets

Greenlots worked with a diverse set of industry peers, partners and policy makers over the past few years to achieve network interoperability – each bringing their own expertise and perspectives to help bring roaming to more EV drivers:

In 2020, Greenlots supported the launch of the FordPass charging network, the largest integrated charging network of any automotive manufacturer in North America. The EV charging solutions provider is working to further expand roaming through future partnerships with other EV charging network providers– while continuing to grow and optimize EV charging infrastructure.

“The successful growth of the EV industry depends on major service providers moving towards interoperability, just as banks and cellular networks once did to ensure healthy and long-term growth for the industry,” said Patrick Macdonald-King, Chief Operating Officer of EV Connect. “This agreement with Greenlots furthers our mission to deliver a dependable and seamless driver experience. By leveraging today’s existing EV infrastructure, our respective users will benefit from the convenience of more charging opportunities regardless of the mobile app, vehicle, or credential used, and that is a win for the entire industry.”

“ChargePoint’s mission is to make it easy for all people and goods to move on electric power and industry collaboration through roaming partnerships are pivotal to making the transition to electric seamless,” said Bill Loewenthal, Senior Vice President, Product at ChargePoint. “Software is the key component that makes roaming across EV charging networks a reality, and the agreement between ChargePoint and Greenlots ensures the best possible experience for drivers to find, use and pay for charging, all without the need for multiple charging network accounts.”

“We are excited about this new roaming expansion and are looking forward to welcoming Greenlots’ users to FLO stations,” says Nathan Yang, FLO’s Chief Product Officer. “We strongly believe in the importance of open networks and platforms. Roaming agreements are a tangible way to improve EV drivers’ experience and break down barriers to widespread adoption, which ultimately encourages more people to switch to electric vehicles.”

About Greenlots

Greenlots, a member of the Shell Group, is committed to the evolution of the electric vehicle infrastructure ecosystem. Our employees, customers and partners share a collective passion for research and development of leading-edge charging software and hardware, smart data analysis solutions and accessible charging services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA with a global footprint, more than 2,000 charging sessions occur on the Greenlots network each day. Our entrepreneurial spirit, with the deep energy expertise of Shell, is powering the electric mobility transformation to create a more sustainable future. For more information, visit: https://greenlots.com/.

Forbes Article