Phillips 66 taps FreeWire to support EV charging

Phillips 66 signed a letter of intent with FreeWire Technologies in support of its first electric-vehicle charging program in the United States, the two companies announced Wednesday.

The announcement highlights Phillips 66’s commitment to pursue lower-carbon solutions and comes as an endorsement of FreeWire’s ultrafast, battery-integrated charging technology. The two companies will explore opportunities to deploy FreeWire’s technology within Phillips 66’s U.S. fueling stations and other strategic locations. 

“With EV adoption growing, Phillips 66 is working with FreeWire to bring consumers electric fueling stations that meet their expectations for high-speed, on-the-go charging,” said Pam McGinnis, Vice President, Global Marketing at Phillips 66.

FreeWire joined Phillips 66 at its branded marketer conference in Las Vegas this week to showcase the agreement. Phillips 66 plans to expand its base of electric fueling stations by leveraging its retail network of approximately 7,000 U.S. sites using the Phillips 66^®, 76^® and Conoco^® brands.

“We are thrilled to play a leading role in Phillips 66’s electrification plans that unlock new customer relationships with EV drivers,” said Arcady Sosinov, FreeWire Founder and CEO. “As charging demand continues to surge, our battery-integrated chargers offer the streamlined, shovel-ready solution that many entering the EV charging space are looking for.”

FreeWire’s Boost Charger offers an attractive alternative to costly and time-intensive upgrades to electrical grid and power infrastructure of an individual site. It connects to existing infrastructure without burdensome construction costs and permitting restraints.

“We like battery-enabled chargers for many reasons. They reduce operational costs by charging up the battery when power is cheaper but still provide capacity to give customers a rapid charge,” said Lou Burke, Manager of Branded Sales at Phillips 66. “These types of chargers require minimal electrical infrastructure investment, significantly reducing permitting and time to value.”

FreeWire recently launched its new global headquarters, R&D and manufacturing facility in Newark, California. The company’s new 66,000-square-foot facility aims to accelerate the development and introduction of ultrafast charging and energy storage solutions.

“We see this as the first of many exciting announcements to come in the fuel delivery space,” said Sosinov. “We’re tremendously thankful to the Phillips 66 team for trusting in our technology and execution as they make this important step toward electrification.”

FreeWire’s Boost Charger was recently showcased as a finalist in Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards’ Transportation Category. In April, FreeWire raised an additional $125 million in new capital from investors, including asset manager BlackRock, Inc.