Blink Charging Establishes New Headquarters, Expands Manufacturing
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In a recent press release, Blink Charging announced that the company is moving forward in two big ways, both at a facility in Bowie, Maryland. On top of an existing 15,000 square foot facility in the city, Blink plans to build a new 30,000 sq. ft. facility nearby, making for a total of 45,000 square feet of headquarters and manufacturing space.
“Blink Charging is proud and excited to be establishing our global headquarters and production facility in Maryland, marking a pivotal moment in our journey toward a greener future,” said Blink President and CEO Brendan Jones. “We are committed to implementing innovative technology and manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency, capability, and output speed while maintaining quality standards. We thank the state of Maryland for welcoming us, and we are excited to be here.”
I was thrilled to join @GovWesMoore today in welcoming @BlinkCharging to Bowie, Maryland!
America is charging because Blink is charging.
I look forward to continuing to create new opportunities for everyone to make it in Maryland and Make It In America.https://t.co/Bw6kru6uv7 pic.twitter.com/SFoUMAuEFS
— Steny Hoyer (@RepStenyHoyer) March 11, 2024
One bit motivation for this move was the Build America, Buy America Act. Previously, the company had a number of overseas production contracts, but this new facility will give Blink the space to manufacture several lines of Level 2 AC charging stations and take full advantage of the Act. The overall goal now is to expand production capacity to 50,000 charging units each year (up from 15,000 currently) and keep up with increasing demand.
These new facilities will both be located in Melford Town Center, a mixed-use community. It’s currently managed by St. John’s Properties, Inc., a company that has several other LEED-certified facilities in the eastern United States under its belt. Together with dignitaries and government officials, the companies held a grand opening event.
“We are thrilled to welcome Blink’s headquarters to the Great State of Maryland,” said Governor Wes Moore at the event. “This decision not only affirms our commitment to climate action but also supports our efforts to create new job opportunities and enhance Maryland’s competitiveness. Together, we will meet our goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035, and we will ensure that climate justice drives economic justice.”
And the governor might have a lot to be excited about. Blink is not only locating its HQ and manufacturing in Maryland, but executives have designated Maryland as the company’s central hub. Proximity to Washington, D.C., was a deciding factor, but the press release also indicated that this choice should contribute to innovative and sustainable workplace operations, which should result in higher product quality.
Those of us who have used Blink stations over the years know that reliability has been a problem for the company, so it’s also good news to hear that the site will also host a new Blink Center of Charging Excellence. At this site, the company plans to perform vehicle interoperability testing, charger certification with the help of a local laboratory, special testing events, and a dedicated R&D laboratory that should help improve and innovate.
If this move can get Blink on track and result in high-quality charging units, the company has a good shot at success. But, this is a story that we’ll all have to keep following to see how it works out, because the future of the company definitely hinges on quality and reliability.
Featured image provided by Blink.
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