Parsippany, N.J. and Palo Alto, Calif. – Avis Budget Group, in partnership with EverCharge, an SK Group company, has launched a significant number of EV charging stations at the George Bush International Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas. The stations will power Avis and Budget’s fleet of EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) available for rent at the airport.
EverCharge’s patented load balancing software, SmartPower, enables large-scale, networked EV charging by managing and controlling electric loads, analyzing the charging patterns of EVs, and intelligently allocating available power based on the individual vehicle’s need. This allows for more stations to be installed without straining the existing energy grid or requiring costly utility upgrades.
Joe Ferraro, President and Chief Executive Officer at Avis Budget Group, said, “An optimal charging infrastructure is a necessary condition to support a seamless transition to an electrified fleet. We are committed to offering the best possible experience for our customers and this requires investing in leading technology that integrates with the diverse EV fleet that our OEM partners will deliver.”
The partnership between Avis Budget Group and EverCharge at the Houston airport is designed to serve as a model for scalable fleet electrification planning at airports across the U.S. It is also the latest example of Avis Budget Group’s belief that electrification is the future of mobility and having sustainable options in its fleet is a core part of the company’s business strategy.
Avis Budget Group believes that partnerships like this, which tackle some of the infrastructure challenges associated with electrification, will help the company reach its 2030 ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) target to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 30%.
“EverCharge is on a mission to enable the widespread adoption of EVs by providing intelligent software and hardware charging solutions that leverage the capabilities of existing electrical infrastructure. Our partnership with Avis Budget Group is an important step to realizing that mission, and a prime example of EverCharge’s ability to advance our partners’ sustainability strategies,” said Jason Appelbaum, CEO of EverCharge.
This partnership comes on the heels of EverCharge’s acquisition last year by SK Group, South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate. SK Group is investing billions of dollars in U.S. energy solutions and sustainable technologies, such as those by EverCharge, to fulfill its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 200 million tons in 2030, or 1% of the global carbon reduction targets needed to address climate change.
Following the launch at the Houston airport, Avis Budget Group and EverCharge plan to extend this partnership to additional airport locations this year.
