Popular Public EV Charging Network Operator Blink Passes 125,000 Members
Blink Network, which operates public electric vehicle charging stations, announced that network memberships are up 42% since early 2017, bringing the company to a total of 125,000 members.
The sharp uptick in new members — moving from 88,000 members in early 2017 to the current membership of 125,000 — tracks closely with the number of new electric vehicles hitting streets around the United States as the next generation of affordable, long-range electric vehicles like the 2018 Nissan LEAF, Chevy Bolt, and Tesla Model 3 finally make it into the hands of customers.
This flood of electric vehicles offers more than enough range for around-town driving, but the convenience of charging at work while shopping and recreating makes owning an electric vehicle that much more convenient. The Blink Network is comprised of more than 14,000 public plug-in vehicle chargers around the United States that are accessible and available for anyone to use to top up.
“Anyone can use Blink Chargers without being a member, so this milestone is a significant indicator of how many EV drivers are active, committed, and engaged with the Blink Network,” said Michael D. Farkas, Founder and Executive Chairman of Blink Charging Co. “We are continuing to expand our robust network and deliver on our promise to make EV charging accessible to drivers wherever they may be going.”
Importantly, Blink Charging owns and operates its EV charging equipment, which drives a higher sense of ownership of the charging experience as well as the ability to manage and improve the charging network over time. This is in contrast with some other EV charging networks that simply run the network and billing backend, with the stations themselves owned and operated by property managers, facility managers, and the like. That less integrated approach often results in a less seamless charging experience.
CleanTechnica reached out to Blink to learn more about plans for future expansion moving forward, including with regards to DC fast charging, and we will update this article if/when we hear back.
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