SK E&S opens EV charging station at Houston Airport

SK E&S opened a large electric vehicle (EV) charging station at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston in Texas on Sunday.

EVs are being charged at SK E&S's charging station at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston in Texas. [SK E&S]

SK E&S opened a large electric vehicle (EV) charging station at George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston in Texas on Sunday.

The project was done in cooperation with Avis Budget Group, a New Jersey-based car rental company. This is the first time for a Korean company to build a massive EV charging infrastructure in the United States.

According to SK E&S, EverCharge, a California-based charging company, established an EV charging station in Avis' workplaces at Houston Airport. SK E&S acquired EverCharge in March last year, though the amount of the acquisition has not been disclosed.

The charger, named EVO2, is equipped with the software SmartPower, which allows higher energy density by effectively managing and controlling the power load. It distributes electricity efficiently by automatically analyzing the charging pattern, SK said.

“The adoption of EVs across the U.S. auto market is encouraging, but this growth requires a transformation of our energy systems,” said Yu Jeong-joon, SK Group Vice Chairman and head of U.S. Corporate and Government Affairs. “The collaboration between Avis Budget Group and EverCharge is intended to provide the infrastructure needed for a clear pathway to cleaner forms of transportation for rental customers.”

There were around 1.84 million EV chargers in the United States in 2020, and the figure is expected to grow at an annual rate of 27 percent to reach 20 million won in 2030, according to data by the International Council on Clean Transportation.

Clean energy is one of SK E&S's latest focuses. In September 2021, it acquired 95 percent of Key Capture Energy, a New York-based energy storage company. A month later, SK announced up to $400 million investment in Rev Renewables.

Representatives from SK E&S and Avis Budget Group, including Yu Jeong-joon, third from right, SK Group Vice Chairman and Avis CEO Joe Ferraro, fourth from right, take a photo at a ceremony in Texas on Jan. 26. [SK E&S]

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]