Parkland Corporation

FreeWire and Parkland Team Up to Bring Ultrafast EV Chargers to EV Drivers Across British Columbia, Canada

“FreeWire and Parkland are doing something incredibly innovative in launching what will be the largest deployment of battery-integrated ultrafast chargers in North America,” said Arcady Sosinov, FreeWire founder and CEO. “Our technology will help Parkland to provide coverage in areas where securing new, larger grid connections would make installing such infrastructure more challenging, making it possible for drivers to get a premium charge in the same amount of time it takes to grab a meal on the go – all without impacting the electrical grid.”

The initial phase of the partnership will deploy FreeWire’s Boost Charger™, 150-200 kW ultrafast EV charging stations, at 25 sites in British Columbia, from Victoria to Calgary. Charging locations were strategically selected to provide an essential charging service in dense urban locations, to remote destinations along major thoroughfares.

“We are excited to team up with FreeWire as we build our On the Run EV ultra-fast charging network across British Columbia,” said Darren Smart, Senior Vice President, Energy Transition and Corporate Development, Parkland. “We are committed to staying one step ahead of our customers’ evolving needs. Using battery-integrated chargers will mitigate the need for time-consuming and costly electrical upgrades, allowing us to expand our charging network quickly and efficiently, as customer need increases. Also, because they constantly trickle charge, these chargers significantly reduce strain on our utility grids and minimize our peak demand charges.”

FreeWire Boost Chargers are integrated with Parkland’s JOURNIE™ Rewards App and loyalty programs to provide an enhanced, customer-focused experience for Parkland’s members. Charging will be free for drivers using the app to initiate the charge during the first launch phase.

Canada has set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the government has recently announced that it will be ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2035, driving increased EV adoption.

FreeWire’s battery-integrated Boost Charger allows customers to receive 200 miles of range in 15 minutes.  The Boost Charger plugs into existing low-voltage utility service and delivers high-power charging that typically requires extensive site improvements and grid upgrades. The flexibility of the Boost Charger solution means that significantly more locations will benefit from ultrafast charging, helping companies and countries meet ambitious goals.