ATLANTA, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon (NYSE:
SPG), a global leader in retail real estate, is partnering with NRG
eVgo (ee-vee-go), a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) to
host an Earth Day Caravan of electric
vehicles (EV) through Atlanta to
highlight new eVgo fast-charging Freedom Station®
sites located at popular shopping centers across the greater
Atlanta area. The rolling event
will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21 and will stop at stations at
Town Center at Cobb in
Kennesaw, Lenox Square in Atlanta and Mall of Georgia in Buford and feature charging demonstrations for
the EVs on the drive, including Nissan LEAFs, Chevrolet Volts and a
BMW i3.
Stopping at sites from the northwest, into the city and then to
the northeast, the caravan will underscore the comprehensive
network located at premier shopping destinations. This
network provides range confidence to EV drivers as they travel
across metropolitan Atlanta and
its surrounding suburbs, and the ease with which consumers can
confidently adopt EVs, live more sustainably and power the green
economy.
"In Atlanta, one out of every 60 cars purchased is an EV. The
city is the number one market for the Nissan LEAF. This adoption is
incredible and confirms that sustainability and economic growth go
hand in hand -- the key theme of this year's Earth Day," said Jason
Buckland, eVgo infrastructure development, Atlanta.
"eVgo is proud to support such strong interest in EVs by
providing practical fast-charging solutions at shopping centers
throughout Atlanta," Buckland
continued. "This caravan demonstrates the range and capabilities of
EVs backed up by easily accessible fast charging stations where
drivers need them. Opening three stations at once indicates the
demand for stations, and we're looking forward to extending our
network even farther from Atlanta
as more drivers make the switch to EVs."
Each station features DC fast chargers that can provide 40 miles
of range in as little as 15 minutes of charge, delivering extra
range at convenient locations when customers need it. The stations
also feature Level 2 (240V) chargers, which are similar to the
chargers EV drivers may have at home, and can connect to all
consumer EVs.
The three Atlanta area stations
that will be part of the Earth Day
Caravan are located at Town Center at Cobb, Lenox
Square and Mall of Georgia.
Additional stations are operational at Phipps Plaza in
Buckhead, Atlanta and North Georgia Premium Outlets in
Dawsonville.
"Simon is committed to providing sustainable amenities for our
customers and the opening of three EV charging stations today is a
great example of that," said Mona Benisi, Senior Director of
Sustainability for Simon. "The locations of our shopping centers
across the U.S. mean that Simon is ideally positioned to contribute
to the development of a national infrastructure for electric
vehicle charging stations, and also advances the company's
sustainability efforts."
Throughout the Atlanta
metropolitan area, there is a rich network of eVgo charging
stations to choose from with more than 20 fast chargers and plans
to develop many more stations throughout Georgia. Drivers can easily locate the eVgo
station nearest them or where they're going through an interactive
map on eVgo's website; eVgo stations feature 24/7 service for
seamless EV support at any hour of the day.
For more information on the growth of the eVgo network in
Atlanta and to view locations of
local NRG eVgo network stations, visit www.nrgevgo.com.
About NRG eVgo
The NRG eVgo SM network gives electric
vehicle (EV) owners new freedom and range confidence via home and
workplace charging docks, plus a network of fast charging stations
conveniently located at retailers along major transportation
corridors within eVgo cities. Service plans offered by eVgo can
provide EV owners a home or workplace charger and use of eVgo's
Freedom Station® sites and other public charging stations. eVgo is
a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500
company at the forefront of changing how people think about, buy
and use energy. Through eVgo, NRG will provide access to hundreds
of public charging sites across California, Texas and the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. To find
out more, or to join the eVgo network, visit www.nrgevgo.com.
Connect with eVgo on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
@nrgevgo.
About Simon
Simon is a global leader in retail
real estate ownership, management and development and a S&P100
company (Simon Property Group, NYSE: SPG). Our industry-leading
retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions
of consumers every day and generate billions in annual retail
sales. For more information, visit simon.com.
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SOURCE Simon; NRG eVgo