Charging issues in big cities may soon be a thing of the past thanks to some new tech, as Gravity opens ultra-fast 500kW charging points in New York City. Gravity Mobility, a New York-headquartered electric vehicle infrastructure startup backed by GV (Google Ventures), has introduced a new DC charging system called Distributed Energy Access Points (DEAPs). They are based on ultra-fast chargers and compact DC charging dispensers, which can be installed in garages or pole-mounted.

In early March, Gravity opened a large DC fast charging station with 24 500-kilowatt stalls in New York City. It’s located at 401 West 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. The peak power output significantly exceeds the current capabilities of electric cars, which rarely exceed 300 kilowatts.

According to Gravity, at 500 kilowatts, EVs can replenish up to 200 miles of range (or over 40 kilowatt-hours of energy) in 5 minutes. The per-hour rate for a single stall would be 2,400 mph. Theoretically, of course, because everything depends on what the EV’s battery can accept.

A few highlights from Gravity include:

• Charging is available 7 days a week with on-site attendants
• 90-times faster than comparably-sized “Level 2” chargers deployed in most garages
• Future proof: Faster charging than any car currently on the US market can accept. For the first time, the only charging limitation is in the auto manufacturers’ choice of battery.
• 24 charging stalls, with more expected at the site soon, so drivers never have to wait for open equipment.
• User-friendly plug-in and charge with auto authentication for all vehicle types and no interface required.
• Tap-and-go payment for on-demand charging with no appointment necessary.
• Extended parking is available after charging in the adjacent parking facility.
• Bidirectional-ready, with equipment engineered to send battery power back to the building and grid

An interior shot of Gravity’s 500kW EV charging system in New York City.

More recently, Gravity also installed a 200-kilowatt curbside Distributed Energy Access Point (DEAP), no bigger than a conventional Level 2 charger but 30 times faster. Most current AC Level 2 charging points are just several kilowatts.

The 200-kW curbside dispensers are air-cooled, relatively small (18″ x 9″ x 27″), and pole-mounted with tamper-proof hassle-free cable retractors. The company explains that the units are certified and listed by UL Solutions and upgradeable to a full 500 kW, just like the garage versions.

An exterior view of Gravity’s 200kW curbside Distributed Energy Access Point (DEAP).

At 200 kilowatts, EVs can replenish up to 200 miles of range (and accept over 40 kilowatt-hours of energy) in 13 minutes. The per-hour rate for a single stall would be 960 mph.

Gravity points out that one crucial issue for EV drivers is the scarce street space and charging time available in cities like New York, Boston, and Los Angeles. The answer will be simple: DC fast-charging dispensers with high power output will be installed at existing parking spots, either curbside or in garages.

An infographic of Gravity’s EV charging systems.

Moshe Cohen, Founder and CEO of Gravity, Inc., said:

“An urban parking spot is valuable real estate. So is people’s time. If cities install slow, outdated chargers at the curb, they’re wasting people’s time and blocking the ability to fully utilize the latent potential in parked EV batteries. Gravity was the first to bring DEAP-speed to indoor charging, and now we’re doing it again on city streets. There is nothing else like these 200kW chargers on the curbside anywhere in America. Cities like New York should lead from the front with nothing short of the most advanced technology in the world,”

Gravity adds that the pole-mounted DEAPs require no utility upgrades or street reconstruction and can be deployed by the thousands. They are also engineered to be bidirectional-ready, enabling dozens of charging sessions per parking space daily.

A photograph of a charging station that will be available at Gravity’s 200kW curbside Distributed Energy Access Point (DEAP).

It will now be interesting to see whether New York City or other similar densely populated places decide to install more DC chargers along the streets.

A view of Gravity’s 500kW EV charging system in New York City from across the street.