Australian EV charging company Tritium has launched the first charger on the U.S. market capable of Plug and Charge, a communications protocol enabling electric vehicles and charging equipment to communicate, authenticate and bill customers via the charging cable.
No longer will drivers need an RFID membership card, smartphone application or credit card reader to pay for their charge. With Plug and Charge, a charging session can be automatically and securely billed from the moment the plug connects to the vehicle, regardless of the network operator. This advancement in charging technology streamlines and simplifies the charging experience, while improving customer data security.
The 175kWh DC fast charger, dubbed RT175-S smart charging system, powers EVs to an 80 percent charge in 15 minutes on average.
“The RT175-S is groundbreaking technology for the market. With more than 1.5 million EVs on the road in the U.S., this charger is a perfect solution to grow charging infrastructure and further the transition to electrified transportation,” said Jane Hunter, CEO of Tritium. “The RT175-S is the ideal solution for high population areas and can easily be adopted for highway rest stop, fuel stations, municipalities, utilities, fleets, retail, education, destination centers, and heavy infrastructure such as mining and ports.”
The RT175-S is easy to install, boasts a power efficiency averaging 95 percent and is IP65 rated, providing cost savings and optimal functionality in a wide range of environmental conditions. Like other Tritium chargers, this fast charger has a small footprint and is liquid-cooled, featuring tilt sensors for additional safety.
“This technology requires minimal maintenance, maximizes uptime and has a secure payment system that allows customers to feel at ease when using the charger,” said Dave Finn, Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Tritium. “With the RT175-S, EV drivers will soon have a new level of energy freedom, finding more charging installations in convenient locations where they live, work and travel.”
This fast charger with its all-in-one isolated power unit and integrated reinforced isolating transformer allows for continuous 175kW operation at 104°F/40degC and 150kW operation at 122°F/50degC. Optional features include cold weather kit for operation down to -22°F/-30degC, escutcheon panel with interlocked pad lockable isolator for added safety, increased SCCR to 100kA for grid connection with high available fault currents and site power management and load balancing for multiple charger sites. It offers quick and secure payment methods for EV drivers, with credit card compatibility integrated with distinct payment models, including fixed price charging, pre-authorized/post settlement variable pricing and charges based on elapsed time for kWh consumed.
Globally, Tritium has deployed over 4,500 charging stations in 38 countries and provided over 600,000+ charging sessions. Their award-winning chargers have been installed across the globe for customers like Nissan, ENEL X, Honda, NASA Visitor Center, Topgolf, Circle-K, Harley-Davidson, IONITY, CalTech, Speedy’s convenience stores, Shell/Greenlots and many others.
