Electrify America has opened a 20-charger Hyper-Fast charging station in downtown Santa Barbara, California, paired with a 1.9-megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system that the company describes as its largest public deployment to date. The large-format site sits at 36 West Carrillo Street, on the grounds of the former Greyhound bus depot, and its chargers reach speeds of up to 350 kilowatts (kW) — enough to add up to 20 miles of range per minute for EVs built to accept high-power charging. The location is Electrify America‘s second in Santa Barbara and its fourth large-format station in California.
Highlights
- 20 Hyper-Fast chargers capable of up to 350 kW, adding as much as 20 miles of driving range per minute for compatible EVs.
- A 1.9 MW battery energy storage system, the company’s largest public BESS deployment to date.
- Sited at 36 West Carrillo Street, the former Greyhound bus depot in downtown Santa Barbara.
- The company’s second Santa Barbara station and fourth large-format California site, joining Santa Monica, San Diego and San Francisco.
A 1.9 MW Battery System at the Core
The station’s defining feature is its 1.9 MW battery energy storage system. It stores electricity drawn from the grid during low-usage periods and when solar generation is plentiful, then discharges it when charging demand peaks — the same battery energy storage approach the company has deployed at other stations. The setup expands charging capacity, reduces stress on the local grid and increases how much renewable energy the station can put to use.
“This large-format station showcases the next evolution of charging infrastructure, combining high-power charging with integrated battery energy storage to deliver reliable capacity at scale,” said Rob Barrosa, Electrify America President and CEO. “By incorporating advanced storage technology, we’re able to bring Hyper-Fast charging to locations that have traditionally been difficult to serve, while making it easy for customers to integrate charging into their daily routines in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.”
California’s Fourth Large-Format Station
The Carrillo Street site is Electrify America’s second in Santa Barbara, after an existing station at 3790 State Street. It also becomes the fourth of the company’s large-format California locations, alongside sites in Santa Monica, San Diego and San Francisco. Electrify America defines large-format stations as those with 20 or more chargers, a configuration it uses to cut wait times and add capacity as charging demand grows.
CCS Connectors Now, NACS This Summer
The station opens with 20 chargers on CCS connectors. Later this summer, Electrify America plans to convert some of them to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) as part of its ongoing NACS pilot program.
State Officials Tie Charging Access to Lower Costs
California lawmakers framed the opening around consumer savings.
“With gas prices remaining a burden on working families, the move to electric is a matter of savings,” said Senator Monique Limón, President pro Tempore of the California State Senate. “By expanding our public charging network, we are making it easier for Californians to choose a vehicle that costs significantly less to fuel and maintain. Our legislative goal is simple: make the cleanest choice the easiest and most affordable choice for every driver in the state.”
Assemblymember Gregg Hart of California’s 37th district also spoke in support of the project.
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