Dominican Republic presents Caribbean’s first ultra-fast EV charging station
The initiative is led by the Latin American Association for Sustainable Mobility, in alliance with Evergo Connect and the Dominican Electric Mobility Association, together with the support of the Punta Cana Macao Energy Consortium (CEPM), at a cost of approximately US$7 million. Evergo Connect General Manager Óscar San Martín told EFE that it will be an important charging point station for electric vehicles with ultra-fast mode and not super-fast, as currently exists in some shopping malls and other stations, with an average charging time of up to 15 minutes. For his part, CEPM Executive Director Roberto Herrera said that the station will be equipped with services for users such as restaurants, children’s entertainment rooms, coworking rooms, and, as a new feature, a space for the exchange of electric batteries for motorcycles. A photovoltaic park next to the electric station In addition, as part of the financing, the FV3 photovoltaic park was built with approximately 25 megawatts, and the station “has the distinction of having a long-life battery storage of 40 megawatt-hours.” Currently, according to Herrera, the capacity guarantees the service for about four hours of use when there is no sun during the day or at night, while larger batteries are being developed.
The facility visit took place within the framework of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Governors Annual Meeting, which is being held in Punta Cana until Sunday, with the financial institution’s private arm, IDB Invest, supporting the investment. Dominican Republic’s renewable challenge The Dominican Republic’s electricity sector has the challenge of moving from 16% renewable generation to 30% by 2030. In this regard, the IDB is investing in projects that increase the capacity of more than 240 megawatts, including, for example, this power station and the 100% electrification of Saona Island. Together with its innovation agency, IDB Lab, the bank is assisting a public-private program for replacing 2,000 combustion engine motorcycles with electric versions for home delivery services in the Greater Santo Domingo area. EFE jmp/eat/lap.