One of the major impediments to the development of a rural electric (EV) charging network is the nature of local power systems needed to keep charging times meaningful for consumers. That is why the recent installation of a new charging station by Holyoke, Colo.-based Highline Electric Association (HEA), with financial support from Tri-State, may very well be a game changer for rural areas across the West.

To allow for commercial charging of EVs in a timely manner, most charging equipment requires a “three-phase” distribution system, or three conductors, to meet the power requirement of a Direct-Current, Fast-Charger (DCFC). Unfortunately, with many rural electric systems, three-phase conductors are not as readily available or are not in optimal locations, which limits where rural utilities can place DCFC stations without costly three-phase line extensions.

This is where HEA and Newark, Calif.-based FreeWire Technologies hope to change the nature of the game and help alleviate range anxiety for consumers, through the use of existing rural distribution systems and the battery-integrated technology found in the FreeWire Boost Charger 150.