ChargePoint adds overhead EV fast chargers at PDX
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- ChargePoint installed 10 dual-port, 200 kW fast chargers at PDX's Quick Turnaround Facility, mounted overhead with retractable cables to keep hardware clear of moving vehicles and preserve floor space.
- The overhead system can charge up to 20 rental EVs simultaneously, letting rental companies fast-charge vehicles during the brief turnaround window between customers.
- PDX rental car manager Jeremiah Hartley said the design cut installation costs by limiting conduit and wiring, and helps protect against damage from vehicles moving through the QTA.
- Eleven rental brands operate at PDX — Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty, and Zipcar — though ChargePoint didn't specify which companies will use the new chargers.
- ChargePoint's fleet software provides remote monitoring, troubleshooting, and scheduling tools so operators can manage charging based on when vehicles are needed.
- Airports face high power demand, quick turnaround, and limited floor space; PDX's overhead design addresses all three by using ceiling space rather than floor space.
Why it matters: PDX's overhead 200 kW chargers eliminate the floor-space and damage tradeoffs of ground-level stations in the QTA, enabling 20 simultaneous EV fast-charges. With 11 rental brands operating at PDX and similar space crunches at other airports, the ceiling-mounted model offers a practical high-volume charging template.
Ask SkimNews
