SK Signet, a major fast charger manufacturer, has secured a deal to supply 1,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers to Francis Energy.
The partnership aims to take advantage of federal funding for charging stations across the United States, according to a recent report by Reuters. Both companies were selected by the state of Ohio, which allocated over $18 million in combined federal funds to construct 27 EV fast charging stations along its interstate corridors.
Ohio was the first state to issue a request for charging station proposals in the previous year. The Joe Biden administration has allocated $5 billion to states to establish charging infrastructure nationwide, addressing consumer concerns about the limited driving range of EVs. This initiative is part of the administration’s ambitious goal to achieve a 50 percent market share for electric vehicles in new vehicle sales by 2030.
SK Signet stated in a press release that their collaboration with Francis Energy will ensure the production and supply of American-made EV chargers capable of meeting the administration’s objectives. The company, which already supplies charging stations to operators such as Electrify America and EVgo, recently inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in Texas.
Moreover, SK Signet announced plans to introduce electric-vehicle chargers compatible with Tesla’s technology later this year. This decision comes in the wake of prominent automakers like Ford and GM adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS).
However, the 27 charging stations being developed in Ohio will feature the Combined Charging System (CCS) plug, not Tesla connectors. A state official told Reuters that they are currently considering whether to require the Tesla connector or make it an optional enhancement in future rounds of charging station development.
With this partnership and the allocation of federal funds, SK Signet and Francis Energy are set to contribute to the expansion of the EV charging infrastructure in Ohio, bolstering the state’s efforts to promote electric vehicle adoption and reduce emissions.
Francis Energy, the fourth-largest electric vehicle fast-charging network in the country, in June said it has been awarded grant funds by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to build and operate three new charging stations in Beach Park, Troy, and LeRoy.