Blymyer Engineers is working with four different companies to expand the number of electric vehicle charging stations available in California and throughout the United States. The Blymyer team takes the same flexible, quality-first approach to the engineering of effective vehicle-charging stations for each of these companies:
Tesla
The leading maker of electric vehicles chose to work with Blymyer for many Tesla Supercharger stations throughout California. Tesla Supercharging is a proprietary technology that only works with Tesla vehicles. Supercharger stations charge Tesla vehicles in about 30 minutes. The V3 Supercharger supports charging rates of up to 250kW per car.
EVgo
This company is creating a network of fast-charging stations that support virtually all electric vehicles. With 800 charging locations and counting, EVgo is expanding rapidly. EVgo offers DC fast charging designed to charge a car in about 30 minutes. Many stations include Tesla adaptors and all work with the adaptors that many Tesla drivers use to connect to DC fast charging stations.
Amply
A focus on fleet operators sets Amply apart. The stations include equipment that supports the charging needs of commercial vehicles. Amply focuses on simplifying charging for fleets with technology that helps schedule charging and manage equipment. Blymyer projects for Amply use a variety of charging technologies. We work with Amply to choose the right approach for specific fleet operators, sites, and vehicles.
Rivian
A newcomer to the electric vehicle scene, Rivian makes electric trucks that are expected to go on sale in 2020. Rivian’s approach includes fast-charging stations designed to charge these larger vehicles fast. These charging stations will use cutting-edge proprietary technology.
“A growing infrastructure supports electric vehicles,” says Blymyer Engineers’ president, Mike Rantz. “We’re working with the market leaders, and witnessing rapid improvements in charging technology. Each of our clients has its own approach. Working with so many players helps us stay on top of rapidly evolving vehicle charging technology.”
Site assessment crucial to project success
Projects begin with an initial site assessment by the Blymyer team. Important considerations include traffic flow, power capacity, and ensuring the site can be made ADA accessible. Client specifications can change from site to site, and they can evolve over time for repeat clients. For instance, a client is starting to include energy storage in many charging stations, helping to provide charging even when power to the site is unavailable.
“All charging stations require dedicated power from the utility for the power draw,” says Stanislav Gorbis, a Blymyer project engineer. “We work with the utility to determine power demand, and then design the switch gear. Charging stations look simple—and that’s what we want. Users should find charging easy and accessible. Bringing it all together requires that we stay on top of all the details and keep users in mind throughout the process.”