Costco and SpaceX don’t seem to have much in common, right? But if we told you that some former SpaceX employees managed to install six fast-charging stations for electric vehicles at a Costco in Florida, the connection starts to make sense, doesn’t it?
That’s exactly what happened. It took Electric Era, the charging company, just 54 days to install six fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. The location chosen was Florida, and these superchargers can recharge a battery up to 80% in just 20 to 60 minutes. If you have an electric car, you know this is very good news, don’t you?.
Electric Era, a startup founded by former SpaceX employees, was the one that managed to install the entire system in only 54 days! No complex operations or major construction, just speed, efficiency, and experience!
Express installation
In the industry, timelines are usually measured in quarters… But not for Electric Era, who signed the contract with Costco last April 7, delivered plans and permits before April 18… and by May 30, the chargers were already operational! An incredible task, don’t you think??
They have simplified the process and minimized the dig in the parking lot, and, voilà, it’s ready now!
Made in SpaceX
The engineers at Electric Era applied the “first principles” method popularized by Elon Musk: rethink every component from scratch to optimize costs and timelines. The result is a charger with 98.5% uptime and 24/7 monitoring. It also includes CCS and NACS connectors, 32-inch screens for promotions, and a loyalty module that integrates Costco’s membership card, so now those who charge their vehicles at these stations also earn benefits as consumers.
Costco wins and so do its customers
Plugging in your car, validating the payment in the same app, and walking into the hypermarket to shop becomes a quick and easy experience—no need to wait for hours. For Costco, each charging session means a customer spending at least 30 minutes inside the store, and something always ends up in the cart, we all love those cravings!
Quincy Lee, the CEO, stated that this is what customers want: fast and reliable vehicle charging systems that help grow their business, and that’s exactly what they’ve delivered!
Only in Florida?
Hold on, don’t be impatient… Florida was the first, but the company is already considering expanding this project. And really, the idea of deploying stations without the need for construction is amazing.
The new charging infrastructure map
While public charging points grow, data from the Energy Information Administration shows that 70% of fast charges in the U.S. take place on high-power direct current. Placing these chargers where people already shop or work is key for everyone!
Electric Era has positioned itself in the market with a fast and scalable solution that could be replicated in gas stations, malls, and other supermarket chains. The strategy is very simple: more charges mean more visitors; more visitors justify new stations; new stations reduce “range anxiety” and encourage EV purchases. Everything seems perfectly orchestrated.
EV policies
Programs like the U.S. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) fund up to 80% of the cost if the chargers meet reliability and power standards, so it’s the best way to also take advantage of national policies that encourage EV purchases!
The Costco–Electric Era partnership confirms that fast EV charging is no longer a long and boring service, but something that also attracts customers!
By combining space engineering with everyday needs, Electric Era shows that electric mobility infrastructure can grow at startup speed!