By The Star Staff
After an exhaustive evaluation and selection process, the Highways and Transportation Authority (ACT by its initials in Spanish) announced the award to four companies as qualified suppliers for the project to build six fast charging stations for electric vehicles (EV), under the National Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles (NEVI) program.
The selection process, which ended on Sept. 13, was carried out through a request for proposals (RFP). The companies selected to develop the stations are: Transporte Sonnell LLC, Velocicharge LLC, Tesla Inc., and Deyá Elevator Services Inc. They will be responsible for building charging stations on 684 Street, Corujo Industrial Zone, in Bayamón; Montehiedra Outlets in San Juan; Yauco Plaza in Yauco; Premium Outlet Blvd. in Barceloneta; Ponce Town Center, Ponce; and Aguadilla Mall in Aguadilla.
The new stations will be equipped with at least four 150-kilowatt (kW) direct current fast chargers, capable of simultaneously charging four vehicles. The charging infrastructure will have a minimum capacity of 600kW, meeting established standards to ensure efficient and accessible service for all users.
“The implementation of these fast charging stations aims to encourage the use of electric vehicles on the island, providing an accessible and reliable charging network that allows drivers to travel with confidence,” said Dr. Edwin González Montalvo, executive director of the ACT. “This effort is aligned with federal plans to develop a more sustainable transportation infrastructure and promote the adoption of clean technologies throughout the island.”
The program is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and has $7.5 billion available for the implementation of electric vehicle infrastructure in the United States and its territories. NEVI’s goal is to build an integrated, public, national electric vehicle network to develop fast-charging infrastructure along an alternative fuel corridor that is reliable, convenient, affordable and equitable.
The ACT is currently in the process of formalizing contracts with the selected companies. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, once the corresponding environmental assessments are completed. The goal is for the fast-charging stations to be operational within a period of four to 15 months, depending on the location and specific requirements of each project.
In addition to the awarded stations, ACT is working on planning a new RFP to expand charging infrastructure in other corridors on the island, including highways PR-18, PR-3, PR-53, PR-54, and PR-66. The next RFP is scheduled to be published by the end of November.
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