ChargePoint said it has deployed public electric vehicle charging infrastructure at rental car locations operated by Midwestern Wheels in Wisconsin, expanding access to chargers at sites in Appleton and Madison while also supporting fleet operations.
The partnership allows Midwestern Wheels, an Avis Budget Group licensee, to use a mix of alternating current and direct current chargers for its rental fleet while opening the stations to the wider public. The approach is designed to increase utilization of charging assets and create additional revenue beyond internal fleet needs.
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Rick Wilmer, chief executive of ChargePoint, said making fleet chargers publicly accessible can speed up payback while broadening awareness of the brand. “Opening chargers to public use accelerates return on investment while building brand awareness,” Wilmer said, adding that the use of ChargePoint’s Omni Port technology removes the need to assign parking spaces to specific connector types.
The Wisconsin locations are operated by Midwestern Wheels, which serves rental customers at airport and local market branches. Bill Wallschlaeger, president of Midwestern Wheels, said the installation simplifies charging for rental vehicles while also supporting local drivers. “The stations simplify charging for rental EVs while serving public drivers in each community,” he said.
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The sites feature both AC and DC chargers and are supported by the company’s new ChargePoint Platform software, which provides real-time monitoring and remote performance management. ChargePoint said the technology enables any EV to charge in any parking space without adapters.
The rollout comes as EV adoption in Wisconsin accelerates. State registration data shows electric vehicle registrations have grown by more than 50% a year on average since 2013, increasing demand for publicly accessible charging infrastructure across the state.