Electric Era, an electric vehicle (EV) charging startup, recently moved to a larger facility near Seattle to accommodate its growing business and showcase its legitimacy through a functional workspace. The company recently launched its first EV charging station at a Costco site after impressing the retail giant with their professionalism and operations. Electric Era focuses on building DC fast-charging systems that include batteries to store and deliver power. By the end of the month, they will have installed stations at nine locations and are looking to deploy an additional 50 stations by the end of next year.
One of Electric Era’s key selling points is the quick turnaround time for sales and installation, with the ability to install their fast-charging devices within seven weeks of ordering. The company also offers affordability compared to competitors, with chargers that are slightly more expensive than Tesla but at least 25% cheaper than other options. Their stations have a high success rate of 98% uptime, addressing the issue of unreliable public fast chargers due to various factors such as theft of charging cables for copper. Electric Era’s stations include a large battery that helps manage power supply, enabling them to recharge during low-demand periods and provide additional power when needed for charging vehicles.
Established in 2019, Electric Era has raised $20.5 million from investors and operates out of an 18,000-square-foot facility with space for expansion. The facility includes workstations, testing areas for batteries, and ample room for growth as orders increase. While Costco has not commented on their recent installation partnership with Electric Era, the startup is optimistic about additional deployments at Costco locations around the world. Costco has plans to install fast chargers at 20 locations but has not specified a timeline. Electric Era is eager to expand its network nationally and continue building partnerships with companies like Costco to improve the reliability and accessibility of charging stations for EV drivers.
The addition of a battery to Electric Era’s charging stations is crucial for managing power demand, especially as more people switch to EVs and larger charging stations are needed. The company’s goal is to address grid constraints and provide a reliable charging solution for a growing number of EV drivers. Electric Era operates with a team of 33 employees and plans to scale up its operations with additional station deployments in the coming years. The growth of EV infrastructure, supported by government funding and legislation, is helping accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and make charging stations more prevalent than petrol pumps in the near future.
Electric Era’s innovative approach to EV charging includes the use of batteries to store and deliver power efficiently, addressing common issues with existing fast charging stations. The company’s focus on affordability, quick installation, and reliable operation sets it apart from competitors in the market. With a commitment to expanding its network nationally and partnering with companies like Costco, Electric Era aims to be at the forefront of the EV charging industry and play a key role in facilitating the transition to electric vehicles. By providing reliable, accessible, and efficient charging solutions, Electric Era is contributing to the growth of electric mobility and helping address the challenges of grid constraints as more drivers make the switch to EVs.
