Entergy Mississippi has launched its first company-owned direct current fast charging station pilot program in an effort to understand better the impact of electric vehicles on the power grid and prepare for any upcoming needs. The $200,000 fast charging station will be located at Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland and will be open to all EV owners. Two chargers that can provide up to 120 kilowatts of power and are compatible with many different electric vehicle models will be available so users can access quick and cost-effective charging. Entergy will be able to collect data to help determine the impact of electric vehicles on the power grid. Insights on frequency, time of day and location can help the company prepare for improvements that may be needed as power use from electric vehicle drivers increases.
In addition, Entergy Mississippi has actively supported EV initiatives since 2011, when they funded electric vehicle charging stations at universities across their network. Joining the National Electrification Highway Coalition in 2021 is another positive move towards reaching their goal of having EV drivers no longer having to “bypass Mississippi” because of a lack of infrastructure.
“The complexities of the power grid require us to plan years ahead of when we’ll need infrastructure in place to serve our customers,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi. “By proactively installing this fast charging EV station pilot project, we’ll be able to learn in real-time the effects electric vehicle use has on our systems and implement technologies to help manage the demands we expect in the future.”
