Adding over 16 new chargers around the island
Velocicharge, a leader in the electric mobility revolution in Puerto Rico, announced the completion of the largest expansion of its electric vehicle charging station network across the island.
The expansion, which began in October 2023, has added over 16 new chargers in strategic locations around the island.
The new charging stations are in Plaza Las Américas, Plaza del Caribe, Plaza Río Hondo and Céntrico. Meanwhile, the existing stations are in Plaza del Norte, Outlets 66, The Outlets at Montehiedra and Shops at Caguas, Catalinas Mall. There are now 32 chargers in 7 towns, impacting 5 regions of the island.
The expansion, which began in October 2023, has added over 16 new chargers around the island.
The chargers range from Level 2 (7.7 kW) to Level 3 (DC Fast) at 50 kW and 120 kW, the latter being the only one of its kind and among the most powerful in Puerto Rico. It can charge a car from 0 to 80% in approximately 35 minutes. All installations were planned, supervised, and/or executed by Visotek Corp, the official distributor of ABB E-mobility solutions in Puerto Rico.
“One of the key factors is the convenient location of all Velocicharge stations. They are located in popular shopping centers where customers feel comfortable, safe, and can complete other tasks while charging. Studies already show us that 45% of customers have a coffee, eat, or visit a store while charging,” said Juan Alvarado, Velocicharge marketing director.
In 2023, the company launched its own software with features incuding a renewed user interface in Spanish and English, notifications when the vehicle has completed charging, ability to save favorite stations, explore the price per kW by location, budget control, options to start charging, such as by time, by kWh or by total, automatic charging, digital coupons with discounts or free charging, double encrypted authentication for data protection, among others.
According to Velocicharge, thanks to this software, installations with global standards and machines with proven technology, the company already has over 10,000 successful charging transactions and over 2,600 active customers, who visit the stations an average of 3 times per month.
“Service is key to promoting customer confidence, which is why new surveillance processes have been created with shopping mall administrations to educate, guide, and protect charging areas from users who leave their car without charging. Likewise, with customer service to continue being empathetic in the process of understanding this new technology and its variables in each car model,” commented Antonio Soler, Operations Director.
For 2024, the company aims to work with various elements such as end-user education, educational partnerships with car brands and institutions, new locations, and software updates that offer more and greater benefits in the charging experience.
“There’s a lot of misinformation at all levels, from end users, general contractors, electricians, salespeople, to government levels. It’s urgent to start a multisectoral educational message to promote the adoption of these new technologies, standards, and processes,” commented Carlos Vizcarrondo, CEO and Owner of Visotek and Velocicharge.
“With this goal in mind, we will be creating educational partnerships with leading companies and organizations in various segments in order to contribute and decrease resistance to change. Electrification is not only about cars but extends to public transportation, airports, delivery services, maritime transport, and more,” Vizcarrondo pointed out.
“The expansion of the Velocicharge network represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future for Puerto Rico. However, there is still a long way to go. The biggest challenge lies in the union of local companies and organizations in favor of making the electric vehicle industry viable. Education is key: from end customers to builders, developers, agencies, and car dealers, everyone needs accurate information. In Europe and the United States, car brands have created alliances to build infrastructure and educate the public, something that has not yet been seen at the local level. Fortunately, some dealers and car companies have already joined Velocicharge, taking a crucial step. However, greater participation is needed to generate consumer confidence, reduce resistance to change, combat misinformation, and encourage the development of more local companies. Facilitating access to electric vehicle charging helps reduce the country’s carbon footprint,” Vizcarrondo concluded.
At Velocicharge, founded in 2021, we are proud to be Puerto Rico’s leading operator of fast charging stations for electric vehicles. We offer comprehensive residential, commercial, and industrial solutions for electric cars. Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by delivering a reliable, convenient, and easy-to-use charging network across the island.
