Electrify America Deploys Tesla Batteries to Cut EV Charging Costs
Electrify America installs Tesla Powerpacks at over 100 stations to store off-peak energy and reduce charging costs for drivers during high-demand hours.
Electrify America, a Volkswagen subsidiary created after the diesel emissions scandal, installs Tesla Powerpack battery systems at more than 100 electric vehicle charging stations this year. The company uses these 210 kW battery systems to store energy from the grid during off-peak hours. That stored energy then powers the stations during peak demand times, which significantly lowers charging costs for electric vehicle owners.
Each site features a battery system with roughly 350 kWh of capacity to support Electrify America's high-power chargers. CEO Giovanni Palazzo notes that Tesla's global expertise in battery storage and EV charging makes the Powerpack a natural fit for this peak shaving strategy. This move highlights the growing need for affordable and accessible fast-charging infrastructure as electric vehicles become more common.
Electrify America currently builds out a massive network of 484 stations with over 2,000 charging dispensers. These sites feature liquid-cooled 350 kW chargers that theoretically add up to 20 miles of range per minute. While no current electric vehicle fully utilizes this maximum speed yet, upcoming models like the Porsche Taycan feature 800-volt batteries designed to take advantage of these ultra-fast charging capabilities.